Stomp, Birmingham Hippodrome - review and pictures

And what an incredible concoction of bangs, claps and thuds the cast of Stomp brought to the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Brooms, matchstick boxes, paint tins, shopping trolleys - even the kitchen sink - were all hauled onto the stage as opening night took over the city centre theatre.

Perfectly honed beats, the kind that make you want to tap your toes and shake your shoulders, proved the most bizarre but enjoyable sounds can be crafted from using the most mundane objects.

Performers suspended over the top of the stage glided from pots and pans with wooden sticks in tow, bringing their thumping melodies to life with a street party-like spirit.

Dust bin lids were crashed together like warriors in combat, while lighters flickered on and off like candles in the wind.

Despite the somewhat deafening noises, the finely-tuned choreography was pretty inspiring – maybe it’ was the simplicity of it all, or the astonishment that basic household items could bring so much joy.

For unsuspecting theatre-goers, a 105-minute show of percussion and somewhat tribal-like dancing might sound a bit taxing; but with the addition of the flawlessly-executed comedy, this show was a winner.

I wasn’t expecting to laugh at all during the show when I stepped into the Hippodrome, but I, with what felt like the entire crowd, was left in stitches at the silent humour.

Getting the audience to join in and mimic performers clapping and tapping to the beat was also a crowd-pleaser, even if theatre-goers were slightly out-of-sync with each other.

After touring for the past 26 years, more than 12 million people have encountered the magic of Stomp across the globe. It might just be one of the ultimate simple pleasures.