Stomp at Milton Keynes Theatre: a brilliant experience almost defying description. A stage show that has no words, isn’t mime, but everyone in the audience can understand it. It is certainly not a musical and it has little or no melody in the traditional sense. It doesn’t matter if anyone in the audience at Milton Keynes Theatre was a lover of jazz, classical, dance or pop. If you are human, you have RHYTHM hardwired into your brain - and Stomp is all about rhythm - the basis of all music.

The group of artists known as Stomp work together using simple objects such as plastic bags, kitchen sink, mops, Zippo lighters, newspapers and sand, to create something complex that had the audience at Milton Keynes Theatre clapping their hands and stamping their feet - all in the name of serious enjoyment.

There are several Stomp companies currently performing around the world. The company performing at Milton Keynes Theatre was very tightly choreographed and orchestrated. While there is a lot of room for each performer’s own personality to come to the fore, the overall performance engaged the audience as a whole as they were drawn in to become part of a very enjoyable experience.

An hour and 40 minutes without a break - and the lack of a break most certainly went unnoticed by us in Milton Keynes Theatre.

When Stomp went off stage at the end of their scintillating and physically dramatic performance, we applauded with a level of energy that Stomp had exhibited throughout their show. When the ‘janitor’ came on as if to sweep the stage after Stomp had left it, he indicated as if surprised anyone was still in the auditorium. A few gestures and hand claps later and Stomp were back out on stage wowing us all once again in an encore we wish could have gone on forever.

Families, couples, individuals - from pre-teen to post retirement - everyone left Milton Keynes Theatre with a smile on their faces and rhythm in their feet.

One of those shows you could happily see again and again. Recommended? You bet!

You have until 30 October 2010 to experience the rhythm!

Andy Booth