Raves R Us is set to get the Glastonbury party started – and make its debut at Shakespeare North Playhouse

Award-winning Liverpool show Raves R Us is headlining the Outside Circus Stage at Glastonbury for the fifth year running.

The explosive theatre event will be performed at the world-famous Worthy Farm festival for the first time over all four days from Thursday to Sunday, with hopes that it will even smash its previous 1,000-plus audience figures.

Mike Dickinson, who’s founder of Naughty Corner Productions which created the original show Raves R Us and the specially-adapted festival version said:

“We have been told to prepare for our biggest crowd yet,”

“We have always wanted to perform on the Thursday too and this will be us getting the Glastonbury party well and truly started!”

But fans needn’t worry if they haven’t got a ticket to Glastonbury on June 25-29.

Raves R Us is making its debut at Shakespeare North Playhouse next month and taking over the Prescot Theatre for two nights only.

“This is the original version but it’s not that different from the festival version” adds Mike, “in fact, while we’d adapted the show for festivals, there are elements of the Glastonbury show that we’ve now put into this, so there is a crossover.

“It means that people who can’t get to Somerset can still see the show and get a little bit of Glastonbury closer to home.

“It’s great to see theatre changing – because this is what we call rave theatre.

“And while you might think a theatre audience is more restrained than one at a festival, people do dance – although we don’t expect them to get up straight away!”

He smiles:

“There are times when we wonder ‘what if the audience doesn’t get up?’.

“But we’ve taken the show across the UK, to Edinburgh, London, Liverpool – of course – and Manchester, and that hasn’t happened yet. So we’re hoping Shakespeare North Playhouse doesn’t disappoint us!”

Mike, 33, who’s originally from Ellesmere Port but now lives in Huyton, set up Naughty Corner Productions about 11 years ago, taking shows to theatres and festivals in the UK and all over the world. 

He co-wrote and produced Raves R Us with Adam Nicholls – who also acts in it – creating the biggest hit to date.

In the show, Toys R Us has closed down for good leaving Charlie and his mates unemployed, depressed and searching for any escape, when a vision comes fully formed. They have an abandoned warehouse, an abandoned nation … it’s time to make a sanctuary, an escape… a rave!

“We created Raves R Us about six years ago after reading a news article about people who tried to put on an illegal rave in an abandoned Toys R Us and we thought it would make a really good, immersive show where the audience becomes part of the rave,” says Mike, who’s also head of first year at LMA in Liverpool.

“It takes people through the history of rave music and rave culture, from disco right through to house and all the different genres of music, and it’s 45 minutes long, it’s a big burst of energy, and the cast is incredible in it.”

As well as it being the fifth time of playing Glastonbury, it’s the third time Naughty Corner have headlined the Outside Circus Stage

“Glastonbury is like nowhere else in the world,” adds Mike, “and there’s no other audience like it, so we can’t wait.”

And he says: “Shakespeare North will be amazing too, and we are looking forward to taking it there.

“Raves R Us is raw, defiant, and euphoric. It’s a story of rebellion, memories, and the dance floor as sanctuary.

“It’s theatre with the volume turned all the way up!”

Raves R Us is at Shakespeare North Playhouse on Friday and Saturday, July 25-26 with performances each night at 7.30pm, and a Saturday matinee show at 2pm.

Book tickets for Raves R Us on the Shakespeare North website.

Find more music events across Liverpool here.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.