Big Bag of Boom Bounces into RET Studio

Award-winning contemporary dancers, New Art Club, return to Manchester with their greatest hits show Big Bag of Boom later this month.

Ths show blends the most explosive extracts from a decade of award-winning shows; from classic moments of inappropriate country dancing, dancing terrorists, disgusting garden gnomes, to a twisted ensemble game of peek-a-boo.

New Art Club was formed in 2001 by Tom Roden and Pete Shenton through their shared passion for comedy and dance. Both trained contemporary dancers, their breakthrough show This Is Modern catapulted them into the national and international spotlight, and started a decade of characteristically clever and funny dance shows.

Big Bag of Boom was premiered at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival and received huge critical acclaim as well as a Edinburgh Fringe Spotlight Award for Best Comedy. Later the same year, the duo toured the UK with This Is Now – a haze of 1980s pop, leg-warmers and crimped hair – which sold out three nights at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Over the last 14 years Pete Shenton has developed a reputation as a choreographer, writer, performer and teacher in dance and dance theatre. In 1994 he graduated from DeMontfort University with a first class degree in Performing Arts.  He subsequently worked as a dancer in Europe with companies such as ContreCour and Teater Tango and in the UK with Vincent Dance Theatre and Motionhouse.  

Pre-New Art Club, Tom Roden was the choreographer and artistic director of the all male Air Dance Company. He is also an independent choreographer/performer in dance and opera working with some of the UK’s leading dance companies, opera houses and training institutions, including the London School of Contemporary Dance and The Royal Opera House.

Big Bag of Boom is at the Royal Exchange Studio from 15 – 19 November.