The creators of the world famous STOMP percussion group received honorary degrees from the University of Brighton today (27 July) – and put on a mini performance using their awards scrolls and lectern as instruments.
Picture by Jim Holden
Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas were given honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of their major contribution to music and performance.
STOMP uses everyday objects such as dustbin lids and brooms as percussion instruments to create physical theatre.
The group was founded in Brighton and is currently celebrating 21 years of performances in New York, 13 years in London’s West End and 24 years of touring the globe.
Their first performance was the university’s Sallis Benney Theatre at Grand Parade and the pair received their awards just yards from the ironmongers Dockerills where they bought their first dustbin lids.
Steve joked they never expected to be honoured by a university: “We are not exactly academic success stories –I dropped out twice and you (Luke) never dropped in.”
Luke advised graduates: “People are always going to say no…that ideas are not good enough…but you just have to really believe in your strengths and your ideas and keep going forward, pushing and keep pushing.”
Steve said: “The important thing is to do something you love to do. We didn’t start STOMP thinking let’s create this thing that’s going to run for 25 years and make us pots of money. This wasn’t in our heads at all.
“What we were thinking was let’s create something that no one else is doing and we would really like to see. That was our motivation. We wanted to see something that we ourselves would pay good money to see.”
He advised: “Don’t be too proud not to collaborate.” They concluded with a short percussion performance at the lectern.
Professor Bruce Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Arts, in his oration, said: “Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas are Brightonians whose creative genius has conquered the world.” Their global phenomenon, he said, was born in the city, “right here in the creative republic of Brighton”.
He said: “STOMP is a theatrical event that endows the working tools of cleaning ladies and garbage men with the classic style and elegance of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers…STOMP transforms the junk and clutter of everyday life into a wondrous experience of rythym and sound.”
In 2006 the two were commissioned by Brighton Festival to create and produce The Lost and Found Orchestra (LFO), which takes the ideas behind Stomp to a symphonic level.
The LFO has performed across Europe, North America and broken box office records at Sydney Opera House, Australia.
In 2010 the two men bought the Old Market theatre in Hove and, after extensive refurbishment, re-opened in 2011 as a year-round arts venue showcasing live music, theatre, dance, comedy and visual arts.
