Upclose with Fraser Morrison of STOMP
British dance and percussion extravaganza STOMP is returning to Hong Kong in September. Fraser Morrison, a star performer as well as the Rehearsal Director, gets up close and personal with Spike Tang.
HK: What do we need to know about you?
Fraser Morrison: I’m a self-taught drummer who started playing when I was 13. Before that, I played the trumpet when I was ten. I love music and performing. I used to play in several bands before I started STOMP and have done various bits of acting but STOMP was and is my first - and last - full-time job.
HK: How did you join STOMP?
FM: I knew Luke Cresswell (the director and creator) from previous drum projects. When he was starting STOMP he asked me if I was interested in joining up. It sounded like fun and it has been...all of it. Back then, it was a three-week experiment and it is now a 14-year journey! STOMP means a lot to me. I’ve been involved from its humble beginnings, so I hold it close to my heart. It’s an honest show with a lot of integrity and it can be a reflection of your life.
HK: How did STOMP develop from street performance to such a well-known stage production? What is the secret?
FM: I don’t think there is any magic secret. STOMP, in its essence, came from the streets and the challenge was always to see if that essence could work in the confines of conventional theatre. And it has. I think if anything, and it’s no secret, what makes STOMP such a success is its accessibility. It speaks to everyone at the same level whether you are three-years-old or 93-years-old, regardless of what language you speak. We speak with the language of rhythm, which is universal.
HK: What exactly is a Rehearsal Director?
FM: Being Rehearsal Director means having a closer eye on the show and keeping things running smoothly. As a performer I would be striving to do the same thing. In a way, most STOMP performers are their own directors - which makes the job easier for me.
HK: Performing or directing. Do you have a preference?
FM: I would prefer to be a performer, though there isn’t much difference, because that’s what I love doing and why I’m here! I enjoy it when we use just our bodies. Essentially, as a performer you are naked (without a prop) and to make music from that is very rewarding.
HK: Why have you stuck with stage shows?
FM: Live performance can’t be beat because it’s of the instant and once it’s gone, it’s gone. I find it extremely rewarding to do what I do and enjoy it while at the same time entertaining and inspiring others. What more can you ask of a job?