Immersive VR Rave Experience Heads to Leeds

Leeds is hosting one of the most talked-about immersive experiences of recent years, as the award-winning virtual reality journey In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats arrives at Leeds Testbed this summer.

Running from 15 August to 17 September 2025, the city will be the only northern stop on a national tour of this groundbreaking project from immersive artist Darren Emerson and East City Films.

A Multiplayer Journey into Rave Culture

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats first made waves in 2022 with its nostalgic deep-dive into the birth of UK rave culture and the Acid House movement. Using cutting-edge VR, audiences are transported back to 1989 to experience the anticipation, thrill and euphoria of tracking down an illegal rave.

This new multiplayer version allows groups of up to four to share the journey together in the same virtual world — interacting, passing objects, and finally dancing side by side as the rave comes alive. For the Leeds run, the production will be staged in a real warehouse space for the first time, amplifying its authenticity.

“These experiences are leading the convergence of theatre, film, music, gaming and visual art to create epic adventures that audiences will never forget,” says creator Darren Emerson.

From London to Leeds

Following a sold-out 74-day run at the Barbican in London, the Leeds engagement offers a rare chance for northern audiences to step inside the world of Beats. After its run at Testbed, the production will head to Warwick Arts Centre and then to the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Leeds feels like a natural fit for the show, with its deep rave and club culture heritage. James Abbott-Donnelly, co-owner of Testbed, said:

“We’re proud to host In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats at TESTBED – not just because it’s a brilliant piece of immersive storytelling, but because it captures the spirit of a movement that shaped so much of what venues like ours stand for.”

Accessibility & Innovation

Accessibility has been central to the project, with seated versions for wheelchair users, subtitles and scene descriptions for d/Deaf audiences, and touch tours. A partnership with Woojer also introduces haptic vests, allowing users to feel the bass through vibrations – making the experience even more inclusive and visceral.

Tickets

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats runs at Leeds Testbed (Butterley Street, LS10 1ES) from 15 August – 17 September 2025. Tickets are on sale now via Testbed Leeds
.