WITH a show as unique as Stomp, most have heard of it before, and each person is likely to approach it with a different impression of what to expect.

I myself, am normally a sucker for a good plot in a production, and was intrigued by the prospect of a show which had no underlying story, other than to make a lot of noise.

Right from the offset, I was fully immersed in this wonderfully diverse production.

It was clear to see the different styles that influenced the show, with elements of samba, tap, rock and even a hint of Riverdance all thrown in. Within minutes I caught myself involuntarily tapping my feet along to the rhythm, eventually committing fully to the sections of audience interaction clapping away like a maniac.

I had worried that the runtime of 100+ minute runtime, combined with the lack of an interval, would result in repetition, but was pleasantly surprised by the variety in the performance, which often attributed itself as much to a concert as to a theatrical performance.

There were some great numbers throughout that, despite being completely separate pieces, gelled together nicely, opening with a smooth introduction of the cast with “Brooms” and “Just Clap Your Hands”, and climaxing with the iconic “Dance and Fight” and “Bins”.

New introduction “Frogs” added some welcome quirk to the performance, while the hypnotic “Trolleys” kept the audience mesmerised with a whirlwind routine.

I was very impressed by the eight-strong ensemble, not only for their ability to keep up a fiery pace for almost two hours, but the variety with which they rotate the focus performer of the routine.

I was even more impressed by the theatrical performance of the team, with some wonderful slapstick moments, despite all coming from backgrounds in contemporary music rather than having the stage school experience which you might expect in a show of this reputation.

By bringing out individual characters within each performer, the show presents a fantastic oxymoron with everyone seemingly doing something totally different, all while remaining perfectly in time.

In summary, Stomp was everything it said on the tin (or bin), offering some intimidatingly powerful beats and intoxicatingly fast rhythms, while remaining fun and light hearted enough that the whole family can enjoy it.