Monday 14th February 2011

If you’re reading this and feeling a bit Monday Morning-ish then ...

apologies ...

That's the sound of Stomp; the percussion based street performance that has grown into an award winning West End and International show.

As part of student workshops on the Performing Arts course two of the cast, Paul Gunson (pictured above) and Manasa Jackson, spent two days at Chesterfield College showing off their talents and sharing their tips for performing on stage every night.

The Chesterfield Post was invited along and caught up with cast and students afterwards to find out what it was all about.

Paul and Manasa told us that, "Stomp was born on the street and taken to the Edinburgh Festival in 1991 where it won the Perrier Award. From that, a massive show followed on Brighton Lagoon with 100 drummers and a permanent cast was established in New York in 1995 where the show remains to this day."

Paul and Manasa have been part of the show since 1996 after they made their film 'Brooms' and are now part of one of five casts throughout the world.

Summing up the appeal of the show by saying, "It's rhythm based and uses everyday household items which people throw away". Laughingly they agreed that, "It can be great stress therapy but that depends on whether you have a hangover or not!"

Although the show is tightly choreographed, there is freedom for the dancers to put their own interpretations in it, "It's a different experience up there every night, you get the freedom to put in your own musical style, there is lots of choreography but when you have a solo ... you run with it."

They're proud to be able to give something back to students, "These workshops are valuable - great, it's good to pass on a bit of rhythm knowledge - and to see them having fun with bin lids is great. To be honest, they come out with stuff which we ... er ... nick! It's great to see something new".



Shannon Toyne is one of the Performing Art students who took part in the days (pictured above). She's hoping to go on to drama school and then onto TV work.

She said "I've enjoyed it, it's been very good, we've learned a lot from them, about what they do and their techniques and what to do if you miss the beat, just pick it up and carry on."

Stomp is a permanent show at the Ambassador Theatre in London - please check out the website at www.stomp.co.uk

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