Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

House of Life

 
Isabella Thompson Review by Isabella Thompson 5 Published: 30 May 2025 Soho Theatre Show Dates: 28 May 2025-31 May 2025

House of Life is back – and this time it’s bigger, bolder and more euphoric than ever. After two smash-hit years at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a run at Soho Theatre Upstairs, this cult favourite returns with a triumphant upgrade to the main stage at this iconic London venue. With added flair, dazzling visuals and star-studded preachers’ robes, House of Life has been well and truly elevated – heart and soul intact.

Bigger, bolder and more euphoric than ever

The joy begins the moment we enter the auditorium. The RAVE-rend (Ben Welch) and his loveable assistant Trev (Lawrence Cole) greet the crowd like old friends at a festival, handing out wristbands and adorning cheeks with glitter. This isn’t just a performance – it’s an initiation. Part rave, part spiritual journey, it’s all wrapped up in a 10-step programme guiding its congregation toward true happiness. Step one is simple: arrive.

Welch radiates charisma as he inducts us into his RAVE-olution. His powerhouse vocals could convert even the most sceptical, and he fearlessly commands the 165-seater space with infectious energy. Alongside him, Cole’s Trev – master of the keys and the epic sound system – works the loop pedal with flair and precision. Their magnetic stage presence never falters.

What unfolds is a brilliant balancing act between spontaneity and control. As Welch cruises the crowd, Cole masterfully weaves audience contributions into the music with pitch-perfect timing. The loop pedal becomes a tool of connection, transforming unpredictable moments into genuinely uplifting musical numbers.

The technical team also deserves applause. Clever lighting and visual gags are timed to perfection, adding another layer of wit and atmosphere that enhances the experience.

House of Life is more than a show – it’s a life-affirming experience. Uplifting, inventive, camp and full of heart, it taps into something deeply human: the need to connect, to let go, to laugh, to dance, and to find happiness through community.

Sheep Soup Productions have done it again.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

House of Life is back!

“The show that turns strangers into friends” (Lyn Gardner) is ready to cure your existential dread with a glittering blast of collective joy!

This feel-good sensation, which is part rebirth, part rave, is the most fun you’ll ever have in a theatre!

Led by the glitter-clad, beat-dropping RaveRend, this genre-defying night of music, movement and communal healing has been scientifically proven* to make you feel 100% never sad again.

It’s wild, a little wacky, and exactly what your serotonin levels ordered.

Feel reborn. Join the RAVEolution. Be happy!