'How I turned a rant about Nigel Farage into a rave tune'
I had no idea what I was in for when I first stepped foot into the House of Life. It was 2024 and my first time at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where me and some friends were popping our Fringe cherries.
We'd already spent one afternoon wincing at the first comic to lure us into their one-man show, so it hadn't been the start we hoped for.
Thankfully, we met with someone in the know, who had an Excel spreadsheet of shows they wanted to see and at the top of that list was a queer cabaret called House of Life.
It turned out to be the most unexpected fun I've had in 60 minutes – and more powerful than therapy.
For anyone who missed out on the cult immersive – and very secretive -experience, You Me Bum Bum Train, because you're not Madonna, Katy Perry or Jeff Bezos, House of Life is another show with the same power to change your direction. And you don't need to sign an NDA to see it.
Later this month, it comes to London's Soho Theatre for a five-night stint as part of its never-ending tour around the world.
I'll admit it's practically impossible to put the concept into one box, but as founder Ben Welch explains to me: 'House of Life is a travelling musical collective with one mission to get you happy at any cost. Ultimately, it's an experience, it's about celebrating the people in the room, trying to find genuine connection and see what building a community in the room looks like.'
Ben stars as the RaveRend or The Rev, draped in sequinned robes, silver boots, oversized yellow shades and a glittered beard. His sidekick is Trev, a socially awkward musician in a creased grey suit and tie who could be the fifth member of Interpol, played by Ben's real-life schoolmate Lawrence Cole.
The Rev hogs the spotlight, but their chemistry is the heart of House of Life.
As The Rev greets everyone at the door, he smears glitter across their cheeks, and as my friends and I entered the House of Life, we immediately felt energised, intrigued and comforted knowing whatever we've let ourselves in for, we're in safe hands.
Soon, The Rev had people all around me frankly sharing their biggest anxieties or anything they wanted to celebrate, be it a new job or the person sitting next to them.
When it was my turn, he asked what was making me angry about the world in that moment. It was weeks after the general election, and without hesitation, I vented into the microphone: 'Nigel F**king Farage!'
Moments later, my outburst had been mixed with a disco track, and the whole room was dancing to the record I didn't know I had in me on loop.
The beauty of House of Life is that each show is completely different to the last.
The Rev steers the ship, but the audience decides the journey by sharing their own experience. The music is inspired by whatever people get off their chest, with Trev on the track and The Rev belting out lyrics on the spot with unbelievably quick improvisation and the gusto of Tom Jones.
Many who have been there once, like me, need to experience it again. And again.
Ben recalls: 'We had one woman at the end of the run in Edinburgh who had been travelling the world and said to me, 'I've been really lost, I've been depressed, asking myself, what am I doing? I don't know where I'm going, but now I feel like it just doesn't matter because I've got people around me here, and this show taught me to just grab life and enjoy it. So many strangers have given me so much joy and love.''
During the show, audience members are also asked to visualise what they want from life. At one performance, a woman told The Rev she visualised leaving her job and going travelling. Later, she got in touch to tell him it was 'the best thing I ever did'.
Since its successful Edinburgh run, the world wants a bite of the show's contagious joy. The Rev and Trev have just travelled around Norway, where they're 'a bit more reserved'.
'But they were so in it and listening,' adds Ben. 'Once they knew that was the task, they celebrated their friends and talked beautifully about their lives and dreams.'
Next, they'll be heading to the queer venues of New York, surely the natural setting for a sermon held by a gay and glittered gospel singer.
Listening to Ben's story, it becomes clear that House of Life was the inevitable path he was meant to tread.
As a teen, he was accepted at Television Workshop in Nottingham, the training ground for local stars such as Jack O'Connell, Bella Ramsey and Vicky McClure. He's played the Panto Dame in Liverpool, set up his own company called Sheep Soup with his collaborator Nic Harvey, taking independent shows to places like Fringe, and in between projects, he's worked with vulnerable young people to encourage them to pursue creative outlets.
His dad died shortly before his first child was about to be born, at a time when the world was beginning to crawl out of the coronavirus pandemic.
'I was performing as an actor, other people's material, hosting events and working with the community, they were all bubbling away and that was the creation of House of Life,' Ben explains. 'Then my first child was about to be born, and my dad passed away. It was a real shift moment. I thought, 'I have to do this because who knows what time we have left?''
After I went to the Fringe show, I felt more inspired than I had been in years. Ideas suddenly poured out of me for days, and I've since left my job to pursue many of them. The holistic experience has stayed with me ever since.
In the House of Life, it is the music that carries you. If Ben's booming voice and performance weren't as good as it is, the rest wouldn't land. The tunes are infectious and slap as hard as they help.
When he was 14, like every aspiring millennial singer, he auditioned for The X Factor. 'I went to Aston Villa's football ground with my mum and tried to sing Valerie, but it was awful.'
Eventually, he recovered and took a dark comedy to the Fringe. He'd sing covers of tracks from the time, like Gnarls Barkley's inescapable Crazy on the Edinburgh mile, to promote it. Naturally, people asked: 'Is there song in the show?'
They'd missed a trick.
'So we made this show, Mrs Green, about an old woman who was an ex-Motown soul singer and grew marihuana for her arthritis and was an agony aunt for the community. I played Mrs Green and developed my singing and songwriting during that process.' More Trending
His voice is a clear nod to the female Black singers of the 60s and 70s, such as Aretha Franklin and Donna Summer. If you want a good time, come for the music alone and leave nourished in funk and disco.
The pair have already built their label, signed a distribution deal with Universal Records. Those tracks that have helped so many already will soon be bursting out of the confinement of venues and into streaming services for everyone. The possibilities are endless and are beginning to feel well within Ben's grasp.
'We have a plan to set House of Life off in the world as much as possible,' he adds. 'Maybe there are different versions in different places, but we're just going to keep following our nose because we're having the best time.'
House of Life returns to London's Soho Theatre on May 27 til May 31.
MORE: 'Heartwarming' new comedy storms up Netflix chart with staggering 20,000,000 views
MORE: US comedian feels 'ignorant' after wearing blackface on TV
MORE: British comedian, 68, secretly marries longtime partner after 24 years together
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Immersive theatrical spectacular joins Edinburgh Fringe line-up this summer
This summer, prepare to be amazed as a brand new theatrical circus comes to Edinburgh. Part of the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Spirit of the Favela is set to bring the vibrancy of Brazil to the Scottish capital for a limited run this summer. Making its debut at the Fringe, the immersive production promises to be unlike anything the festival has seen before - as an electric, pulse-raising tribute to the heart and soul of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Running from July 28 to August 24, 2025, Spirit of the Favela will blend breathtaking artistry, powerful physical theatre, and the infectious rhythms of samba, funk, and street percussion to tell a story of community, resistance, and joy. Celebrating Brazil's favela communities With Spirit of the Favela, audiences can expect a true spectacle with a deeply human story at its core. Using movement, music and sheer physicality, it follows the lives of a young dreamer, Davi, growing up in a favela, where danger and hardship are met with rhythm, creativity, and fierce pride - showcasing the beating heart of real life in Brazil. When corporate giants threaten to demolish their community for mundane developments, the favela residents unite in a powerful stand, resulting in a mesmerising eruption on stage featuring live samba music, captivating dancers, and thrilling circus acts. Witness gravity-defying stunts, explosive group choreography, and visceral moments of stillness and emotion that speak louder than dialogue ever could. Creator and director of the show, Julia Kirilova, who is debuting her first independent production from Big Kid Entertainment with Spirit of the Favela, said: 'This is not a polished fairytale; Spirit of the Favela is raw, real, and utterly alive. 'It's the sound of a drum echoing through alleyways. The sparkle of carnival despite the chaos. It's people rising, dancing, flying.' Inside the Mirage But the heartfelt story and incredible performances are only where it begins, with the venue of the Mirage Spiegeltent being just as unique. A spectacle all on its own, the Mirage Spiegeltent is a grand cabaret-style tent, embodying the charm, sparkle and spirit of Brazil. Spiegeltents are often celebrated for their stunning aesthetics, featuring nostalgic designs and strategically placed mirrors throughout the tent to distort and reflect light, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Combined with elements of wood and glass, guests can expect an immersive sensory experience where the line between performer and audience blurs; enjoy every flip, beat, and emotion as you sit close to the action. The impressive venue will be located at the Gyle Shopping Centre, near Edinburgh Airport, throughout the Fringe, making it one of the first stops that festival-goers encounter, bringing the magic of performance and prestige to more people across the city. The venue is also wheelchair accessible, and will be buzzing with energy from the moment you make your way through its arches. Get your tickets today Spirit of the Favela will run at the Mirage Spiegeltent, based at the Gyle Shopping Centre, EH12 9JY, from July 28 to August 24, 2025. Tickets are now available to purchase online here, with general admission priced at £20, plus a booking fee. The show will last for approximately 80 minutes and is suitable for ages 14 and over. So, this summer, don't miss out on the Fringe's electric new arrival, promising international flair, a live original soundtrack, and a heartfelt message that resonates globally — all wrapped in the fabulous adrenaline rush of performance and spectacle.
Graziadaily
16 hours ago
- Graziadaily
Love Island: Harry Cooksley And Ben Holbrough 'Before And After Hair Transplants' Is Trending
This year's series of Love Island has been dramatic, to say the least. The brutal dumpings, cruel uncouplings and secret hook-ups have made the 12th season one of the most talked about shows of the moment. And while most viewers are talking about the love drama on screen, Harry Cooksley - who was seen having a secret kiss with bombshell Yasmin Pettet - and Ben Holbrough - who's with Shakira Khan - are trending after footage of their dramatic hair transformations emerged. That's right, 'Love Island Harry hair transplant' and 'Love Island Ben hair transplant' are breakout search terms for the Islanders, according to Google Trends. Perhaps unsurprising, 'Love Island Harry before and after hair transplant' is also trending - people love to have a nose at those 'before and after' pictures! Before showing off his full mullet in the villa, semi-pro footballer Harry, 30, says he used to hide his receding hairline with caps. He flew to Turkey for a hair transplant, thought to have cost over £5,500. In a throwback video from 2018, which has gone viral, Harry – then aged 23 – shared his journey at the EstePera clinic in Istanbul. He's seen from start to finish, from having his hairline mapped up for the procedure, before his hair was shaved prior to the transplant and the final result. 'The process was pretty much pain free. The surgeons were brilliant and I am absolutely delighted with the outcome,' he said. Harry Cooksley undergoing his hair transplant ©YouTube/EstePera Viewers praised his openness. 'I think it's really important for men to be open about hair transplants as much as women are about extensions. Good on them for normalising it,' one watcher commented. Another remarked, 'It's refreshing to see Love Island stars being open about personal decisions like hair transplants. A great conversation starter!' with a third adding, 'It's interesting to see Love Island stars opening up about their hair journeys. Great to see more honesty around self-care!' Ben, 23, has also had a similar procedure, although he got his done at 360 Hair Clinic in Brighton. He went through his transplant in 2023, for which prices start from £2,500. 'Before he made his way into the Love Island villa, Ben came to us last year to start his hair restoration journey, and we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look from the very beginning,' said hair loss expert Sophie. She shared footage of Ben's hairline marked up by a surgeon and his hair shaved off, before the hair follicles from the back of his head extracted and implanted in front of his natural hairline. The taxi driver and model was visibly thrilled with the results. 'That's sick,' he said as he admired his new hair. In an update six months after his surgery, he revealed that his hair has been growing thicker, stronger and healthier, with 80 percent back. 'Ben's hair is looking better than ever,' Sophie explained. Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who has covered some of the biggest showbiz news from the past decade.
The Herald Scotland
16 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Review: Rob Mulholland, The Stand, Edinburgh
⭐⭐⭐ On paper at least, Rob Mulholland and Edinburgh seem ill-suited. Describing himself as, 'the funny one from Dead Men Talking, the UK's most disgusting podcast,' the blunt Yorkshireman's language and content would have the majority of Morningside matrons frantically clutching their pearls. 'You'll have had your PC?' After some funny and surreal musings – mainly about vacuum cleaners – from warm-up act Rosco McClelland, Rob's very, very tall frame appears on stage. A seasoned stand-up with Fringe appearances going back to 2017, this Allegations tour is surprisingly his first. He's marked the occasion by going proper comedy old-school in a dinner jacket and bow tie. There's even a cummerbund. 'Are there any women in?' Rob asks. He seems surprised to discover there are and wants to check if they're in the right room. 'These are more my usual crowd,' he says pointing at a group of baseball-hat wearing, beer-swilling lads in the front row. Back and forth banter with the audience reveals an international demographic. Bog standard for Edinburgh, but it pleases Rob no end. The interactions show off his excellent ad-libbing skills but go on a tad too long. Do we really need to applaud two blokes for being father and son? When Rob eventually adds substance, he supersizes it. Observations on genocide, refugees and the toxic trope of benefit scroungers are all delivered dripping in heavy sarcasm. Just in case we miss the mockery, punchlines are punctuated with expansive jazz hand gestures. There's little subtlety but lots of smart in this comedy. His description of someone being, 'a train station pigeon of a man,' is the nearest you'll come to a poetry reading at a stand-up gig. Read more: But just when things are going so swimmingly, they take a turn. Rob decides to get his quips out for the boys and lean into the misogyny. A few of the jokes are pretty distasteful. Many of them are very old. The lads in the front row are lapping them up. The reaction from the rest of the audience is mixed. It's a lost opportunity and a real shame. At one point, Rob announces that this is not a beginner's comedy show. He's right. It's a very good one that had the potential to be a great one. Less shock and awe and more shock and aww for what might've been.
