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13 April 2014
| Last updated on 31 March 2019STOMP! Q&A...
We met with original cast member Fraser Morrison to find out about all things STOMP! The dedication to keeping fit and what its like to be on tour...
Q. STOMP! is one of the bestselling and most well-known shows in the world, is there a massive amount of pressure to perform to standard? How much do the performers rehearse before a show?
A. I don’t think the performers feel” pressure” to perform to standard as from the beginning of training show quality is instilled at a high standard. The show will only work properly if each performer is giving their best to make a collective performance, if that equates as pressure, then maybe. Before each show the performers rehearse for one hour, this can be to work on new stuff, old stuff that needs attention or just due to a change of personnel. Rehearsing before each show gives the company a chance to get on the same page mentally.
Q. Typically how much downtime do the performers get when they perform in a city, like Dubai? Is there time to see any of the tourist attractions?
A. Performers time off varies greatly from city to city. In a standard week the company would be performing eight shows, and in others it may well only be five or six shows. Different performers fulfill different needs when travelling, some feel obliged to enjoy the local tourist attractions, others may prefer to enjoy the cities bars and nightlife and spend the majority of downtime sleeping!
Q. What restaurants/type of food do you eat when you are on the road? Is it fast food, salads or gourmet meals?
A. Each individual performer has their own personal health regime involving their diet and work out routines, some choose to live on fast food and others wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole! A common dominator for most stomp performers, and especially for between shows when time is in the essence, is sushi. Healthy, tasty, quick and doesn’t sit too heavy in the stomach for the second show.
Q. The show is extremely energetic and fun to see, how physically strenuous is it? Do you need to supplement rehearsals with a fitness regime?
A. The show is extremely physical and once again individual performers know best how to get through a show. Some will go to the gym everyday and others will go to ‘jims bar’ every night! Joking aside, over the years a performer will quickly understand their limitations and excesses during and outwith the show.
Q. When STOMP! were last in the UAE, they performed in Abu Dhabi. Did you have time to see the capital at all?
A. Personally speaking I wasn’t there, so the short answer would be no. However, in reference to the previous question regarding downtime, I’m sure that at least half the performers spent time seeing the capital.Why wouldn’t you?!
Q. Which city has had the best crowds?
A.Stomp has been fortunate in playing over fifty countries worldwide now, and I can say with a lot of pride that crowd reaction has always been overwhelmingly positive. If I had to name a few specifics it would be Tokyo for their frenetic enthusiasm and Dublin for their warm-hearted participation.
Q. Where is your favourite place to be in the world?
A. Here and now! Where ever I am when asked that question. Which currently is in my back garden in Brighton, England.
Q. At the end of the day, STOMP! Is a super-successful cast of people banging various household items together… take us back to the beginning – when the group started out initially they were just another group of performers, what did it take to set you apart? How did STOMP! Start?
A. Stomp started out initially as a challenge to take street theatre performance and busking into a theatre environment. The other challenge was to see if an audience could sustain a theatre length piece with rhythm as its only narrative. The idea of junk percussion was not unique in itself but the inclusion of dance, comedy and theatre was what set it apart from anything slightly similar at the time. Combining those different elements in the show made it possible for the show to travel all over the world, with language as no barrier and to perform at various types of festival without being pigeonholed. I think the on going success of the show is the same as its initial success which is stomp has always grown as a show organically and naturally.
Event Information:
| Doors Open | Show Time | ||
| Dates: | Wednesday 30th April | 7:00 pm | 8:30 pm |
| Thursday 1st May | 7:00 pm | 8:30 pm | |
| Friday 2nd May | 3:00 pm | 4:30 pm | |
| 7:00 pm | 8:30 pm | ||
| Saturday 3rd May | 3:00 pm | 4:30 pm | |
| TBC | TBC | ||
| Sunday 4th May | TBC | TBC |
Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre
Ticket prices:
- Gold 195 AED
- Platinum 295 AED
- VIP 395 AED
- VVIP 595 AED
Ticket Outlet: Virgin Megastore & Virgin online
