We chatted to Ben about the London run of House of Life which will be playing at the Soho Theatre (26th to the 31st May), Brixton House (2nd to the 4th July), Wilton’s Music Hall (10th July) & Park Theatre (24th to the 26th July).
What can audiences expect from ‘House of Life’? House Of Life is a travelling musical cult collective with one mission; to get you happy at any cost. It’s an eight step guide to ultimate enlightenment hosted by the glitter clad RaveRend (me) alongside trusty sidekick Trev.
The show was initially created as an attempt to bring people together while the world felt like it was falling apart. With division being so wilfully and publicly supported by terrible people around the world, we wanted to build an experience where people could bring their darkness, work through our rogue cult-like eight step guide to happiness and leave a little lighter and more connected.
A space for us to let it all out whilst genuinely connecting with strangers and of course giving thanks to our chicken mummy..
How does it feel to be bringing the show to London? We’re buzzing to be back at Soho Theatre. London is the official UNESCO city of sadness * who need the House Of Life more that ever. We’re also in the main house of Soho this time which means that the total length of glitter curtain now needed is almost the full length of an athletic track, and that surely is all you need to know, right?!
After Soho we’ll be jumping on the bus to every corner ** of London for shows at Brixton House, Wilton’s Music Hall + Park Theatre. We can’t wait to meet the congregations in each venue and guide them to ultimate happiness.
*unconfirmed fact
** some corners
What do you love the most about performing? I think for me, with my glitter beard and my high heeled silver boots and overwhelming campy vibe, it’s the subtlety and unassuming energy that I love most…. and mainly the claps.
How did you end up getting into the world of theatre and performing? I’ve always been a live wire who doesn’t really like to sit down. My mum says I was a duracell bunny who didn’t sleep through the night until I was nine so I think it was initially to give her a rest. And then I loved the claps. My first memory of my cabaret life was my full Amy Winehouse turn in the school talent show at aged thirteen. Then I joined The Television Workshop in Nottingham before setting up Sheep Soup theatre company to make work and get it out into the world and here we are.
What do you love the most about the fusion of cabaret and theatre within the show? A big part of what I love doing when I perform is having a direct relationship with the audience so it felt like the show would always be rooted in cabaret. I’m super inspired by artists and shows that mould together soul music, drag, clown, dancing as well as “proper” theatre. House Of Life is an eight step guide to happiness and the fusion of the cabaret world with theatre gives us the ability to bring the VIBES as well as guiding the congregation through an over arching narrative that leaves them feeling…something.
By Emma Clarendon
For further information visit: https://www.houseoflife.me/