Stomping back to Newcastle, hit show drums up interest with city centre preview

Clashing dustbin lids and hammering containers, the cast of Stomp certainly didn't go unnoticed when they arrived in Newcastle on Wednesday morning.

The energetic performers quickly drew a crowd outside the Theatre Royal as they gave a high-impact - and very noisy - performance with clattering and banging on makeshift drum-kits, dancing and somersaults.

The cast members, including local talent Jamie Welch, were giving a taster of Stomp ahead of its opening on Thursday for a three-day run at the Theatre Royal.

Jamie, from Bedlington in Northumberland, has been in the cast of the popular show for two years during which he has toured across Europe but this will be his first time in his home region with it - and he was delighted to be bringing it to Newcastle.

"It's great," he said. "This is my first time back in the North East with the show I do for a living and I've got a mix of family and friends coming."

While the show - snippets of which featured during the closing ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics - has been around since 1991 - and has built up a loyal fan-base - this week marks the first time it has been back at the Theatre Royal for about two years and audiences are being promised a performance that is faster and funnier than ever.