Stomp - The Lowry - 20/01/08 by Matthew Berrisford

I always wanted to be a drummer – but I never had the Latin.

Fortunately, I’ve got Stomp to cater for all my rhythmic needs – a unique percussion and dance show that takes everyday objects and uses them to create an industrial score.

For a two-hour show, there’s no story as such. The performance consists of a series of skits loosely tied together around elements of physical comedy and the interaction between the performers, their environment and the audience. (Yes – clap, clap! – you’re expected to join in.)

As my plus-one warned, “If this is two hours of someone swinging a broom around their head, I’m leaving.” Brooms are involved. And bins, and plungers, and a whole medley of matchboxes, lighters, rubber tubing, water cooler bottles and, naturally, stomping feet. But it all ties together beautifully and I’d be hard-pressed to criticise any of the performers; they’re charismatic, funny and fascinating to watch.

At close to two hours, the show is a tad long. My interest waned when the cast took to the air and started to beat out a rhythm on the huge metallic sculpture that overlooks the stage. As impressive as it was, it distracted from the pleasure and simplicity of watching them utilise everyday objects – the very foundation of street performance they aspire to.

As someone who stands outside M&S on a Saturday morning deriding dreadlocked gap year students as they bang their bongos, Stomp had me tapping my toes on the tram home. If I had a modicum of rhythm in me, I might even consider going for a Saturday night boogie. Either that or I’ll take-up the spoons.