Old-school clubbers who love classic house, rave culture and acid have joined forces by crowdfunding the development of Better Days, at Leeds Playhouse on 3 and 4 March as part of a UK tour.
Leeds-based playwright and screenwriter Ben Tagoe is returning to his roots with a show that combines his passions of music and theatre. Ben has written for Idris Elba, James Nesbitt and Dougray Scott, as well as for EastEnders and Coronation Street. Speaking about Better Days, Ben said: “It isn’t entirely biographical, but it is very much drawn from my own personal experience and those of close friends. Rave and house music was a massive part of my youth. It’s a universal story that anybody who came of age in that era will relate to. It was a magical time and there are so many amazing memories. Better Days is an intimate standing show. I felt it would be best to get the crowd as close as possible to the performer to recreate the feeling of being in a club, but with the storytelling integrated. It will be like listening to an old mixtape from the early 90s, with a very personal story mixed in. The show seemed to capture people’s imagination from day one and the support we attracted via Crowdfunder was incredible.”
The show, presented by Studio 57 Productions, features some of the best rave and clubbing tunes from the early 90s, including tracks by N-Joi, Frankie Knuckles, Gat Décor, 808 State and the legendary title track “Better Days” by Jimi Polo. It tells the story of Danny, a 19-year-old in 1990, who finds himself at a crossroads between two tribes – the burgeoning house music scene and the football hooligans he feels bound to by fierce loyalty. As well as music, this dynamic, vibrant 70-minute live performance also includes poetic storytelling that takes audiences on an exciting trip down memory lane.
East Yorkshire actor George Martin plays Danny: “I’ve always been a fan of 90s house music. Having heard the stories of the legendary clubs that existed across the UK, I feel like I missed out on something. Being part of Better Days is not only fulfilling as an actor, it has also given me an opportunity to experience what it was like.”
As well as Leeds Playhouse, the tour is also heading to Farsley, Manchester, Hull, Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.
Click here to watch the Better Days trailer
BETTER DAYS is presented by Studio 57 Productions
Bramall Rock Void, Leeds Playhouse 3-4 March
Box office: 0113 213 7700
leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Photography by John Johnson.
