The UK’s biggest immersive VR experience begins national tour in Birmingham 

UK Tour commences at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

A multi-sensory joyride into the heart of a working-class revolution in dance 

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, the internationally-acclaimed, award-winning interactive VR adventure that transports you into the heart of the Acid House movement has begun its national tour after opening at The Waterhall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

The VR experience, produced by East City Films and created by Darren Emerson, will visit eight cities across the UK with The Waterhall in Birmingham opening the tour. The tour is jointly supported by Arts Council England and BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund.

The experience takes audiences back in time to the beginning of the Acid House movement and the creation of UK rave culture telling a multicultural story of collaboration and unity that celebrates music, friendship, and the joy of youth.

The experience of tracking down and arriving at an all-night illegal warehouse party at the height of the rave scene in Coventry, 1989 puts audiences into the shoes of rave culture pioneers. Viewers are taken on a multi-sensory joyride into the past, bringing to life the stories of the promoters, police officers, pirate radio stations, and secret warehouse rave-goers, whose rivalries and relationships drove a revolution in music and society. The film features euphoric rave anthems such as Chime by Orbital and Energy Flash by Joey Beltram. 

‘Beats uses Virtual Reality (VR) technology to fully immerse audiences in a one-hour multi-sensory interactive experience that is awash with meticulous period detail. It surrounds participants with the sounds, senses, and the thrill of being young (again). 

Sara Wajid, Co-CEO, Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is simply one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. I knew after trying the experience and the amount of joy I felt that we had to be a part of bringing this experience to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“Bringing joy, music and history together in The Waterhall marks the next exciting step in re-opening Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – the first spaces of which will open later this year.

“It has been a pleasure to collaborate with a forward-thinking creative partner and we intend to bring more technology and experiential, immersive visitor experiences to Birmingham in future.”

Tap here to book tickets for In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats at The Waterhall.