An equal music

While clanging trashcans, and dustbin lids spell noise for most, Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas find music in these every day objects. It started in 1981 when Luke and Steve formed a street band, called Pookiesnackenburger, which has evolved into a critically acclaimed musical troupe.

The troupe went on to premiere a “basic version” of their show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1991. Since then, Stomp has gone on to perform at top-bill events like the Oscars in 1996 and at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The troupe will currently make its India debut today, after 25 years.

The commotion of the every day life is a part of the current act, which Steve explains, was all about listening to the rhythm of every day din around. “It’s like the urge to see shapes in the clouds, to look for shapes that remind you of a face or an animal. I think we have the same urge with sound,” he says.

Throughout the show, performers use vignettes such as dishwashers, garbage bins, buckets, sticks and even paint cans. By the end of the presentation, eight performers come together to create an engaging beat. “You wouldn’t expect brooms and pots and pans to have the sounds that they do. It’s not just about making music; it’s about having a great time,” explains Steve.

Every time the team feels like they are stagnating, they experiment with new props. This time around, the newest pieces include shopping trolleys, and ‘frogs’, which are collapsible plastic plumbing tubes. “Trolleys gave us a chance to try different kinds of movement, and march across the stage. With plumbing tubes, we discovered unusual frog-like sounds. We couldn’t resist using it in the show.”

One instrument that didn’t quite work out the way they planned is the inner tube of a car tyre. “Every time we brought one into rehearsal, it just ended up in the corner,” he recalls. Years later, when he observed a gentleman repairing an inner tube for a tractor tyre, with him sitting inside it, he decided to bring the instrument back.  Now the inner tube is taped onto the performer with elasticised straps, something which Steve admits, is high on visual appeal.

The group started using trash cans, an obvious substitute for drums, when they saw an African group using it. “The following week we bought ourselves a set of dustbins and made our drumming routine. The hard part to begin with was finding somewhere to rehearse without being thrown out for making too much noise,” he chuckles.

Calling their performances one of a kind, Steve says, what sets each performance apart is its originality. He says, “We aren’t a touring ‘copy’ of our West End or Broadway performances. The show’s theme, concept, music and choreography are very clearly defined, but the nature of individual performances is not.”

From December 9 to 18, At Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA