Luton’s radical rave heritage is being brought back to life this week in spectacular fashion with Rave New World, a high-energy outdoor theatre event that pays homage to the legendary Exodus Collective.
Blending music, aerial theatre, and moving cars the pay-what-you-like show outside Marsh House Community Centre on Friday and Saturday (March 21 and 22) will tell a story deeply rooted in the town’s activist past and rebellious spirit.
For Glenn Jenkins, co-founder of Marsh Farm Outreach and the Exodus Collective, Rave New World represents more than just a performance — it’s a tribute to a movement.
“It warms the soul to see the revolutionary, creative spirit of Exodus inspiring works like Rave New World all these years later,” he said. “It feels like a tribute not only to the Exodus collective but to the many thousands who stood together for the right to dance all night long and to feel the power of the sunrise and tribal beats in the morning.”
A story of rebellion, resistance, and raving
Created by Revoluton Arts and Tangled Feet in collaboration with Pirates of the Carabina, Rave New World is an immersive production that delves into the transformative power of rave culture.
The story follows two women from different generations — 20-year-old Zia, a viral TikTok star feeling adrift in modern digital culture, and Clara, a former raver turned London cab driver. Their journey is guided by the Voxes, mystical, beat-driven spirits who stir up powerful change in turbulent times.
The show is performed outside Marsh House, a site occupied by the Exodus Collective in the 1990s and later turned into a community hub. Exodus was known for its free, non-commercial parties that provided thousands with a sense of belonging and purpose, as well as its activism in housing and social justice.
The group famously played a key role in calming tensions during the 1995 Luton riots by throwing a massive party near the site of unrest. Formed out of the need for non-commercial collective action, they provided places for people to be together as one, celebrating life and freedom.
Director Kat Joyce of Tangled Feet highlighted the show’s relevance today: “It’s been such an honour to delve into this incredible Luton story and to co-create this show with people whose lived reality has fed into the story we tell together.
“This show is about creativity, music, dance and partying as a means of resistance, as a way to forge a world around different ideals starting right where you live. At a time like this, there’s no option but to be political.
“The subcultures of the 80s and 90s, where solidarity was cemented around the speaker stacks at 3am, posed a real and lasting opposition to the divisive and selfish prevailing politics at the time. Our job is not to lean into nostalgia but to join that spirit up to meet young people where they are and bridge the gap between generations. It feels like we need to party now like we never have before.”
Beyond nostalgia: A call to action
Rave New World is not just about looking back—it’s about reactivating the spirit of community and defiance for today’s challenges.
Lindsey Pugh, CEO and Creative Director of Revoluton Arts, sees the show as part of a broader mission.
“This is the first major project within our Undercurrent programme, uncovering and celebrating the history of activism and music subcultures along the River Lea. We produce bold new work co-created with communities, catalysed by Luton’s cultural heritage with ambition to connect beyond our town.
“With Marsh Farm Outreach (AKA Exodus Collective), Revoluton is co-lead for Lea Marsh Heritage Zone, and collectively we’re on a mission to ignite new appreciation of Luton and its historic significance – from Neolithic beginnings to seminal movements in social change.”
The show features an original score by Aminita Francis and Guy Connelly, text by Luton poet Lee Nelson and Katie Lyons, and choreography that incorporates breakdance and street dance. A real London taxi, transformed into an aerial rig, serves as a striking symbol of movement and change.
Show details and how to join
Rave New World is more than a performance — it’s a movement. Whether you were part of the original scene, heard the stories, or are discovering Luton’s rave history for the first time, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience. Join the celebration, embrace the music, and step into the rhythm of history.
The site opens at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm on both Friday and Saturday night and the pay-what-you-like ticket includes entrance to an after-party with DJs at Marsh House until midnight. For more information and to book a pay-what-you-like ticket go to: https://www.revolutonarts.com/events/event/rave-new-world/
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