Beats back in the Midlands: World-Renowned VR experience ‘In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats’ to come to The University of Warwick
The award-winning VR celebration of Acid House ‘In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats’ is coming back to Coventry, the spiritual home of rave, as part of The University of Warwick’s 60th celebrations.
The world-renowned social phenomenon will take place at Warwick Arts Centre between Monday 29 September until Monday 13 October, transporting you back in time to the height of the rave scene in Coventry. The VR adventure vividly brings to life the stories of promoters, police officers, pirate radio stations, and rave-goers, showcasing their rivalries and relationships that fuelled a music and societal revolution.
Beth Byrne, Creative Director at Warwick Arts Centre says: “It is such a privilege to host the award-winning In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats at the University’s Warwick Arts Centre.
“Bringing such an incredible experience back to the Coventry community is so special, and speaks to our ongoing commitment to embrace art of all kinds. Rave culture is part of the fabric of Coventry and the West Midlands’ history, so this is a wonderful opportunity to share this with multiple generations.”
Featuring euphoric rave anthems like “Chime” by Orbital and “Energy Flash” by Joey Beltram, “Beats” uses cutting-edge Virtual Reality technology to immerse you in a meticulously detailed, one-hour interactive experience. You’ll be surrounded by the sounds, sights, and sensations of being in an era of musical and cultural transformation.
The simulated world, previously premiered as part of the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 celebrations, selling out its month-long run. Tickets are available here.
In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats was created by immersive artist Darren Emerson, and produced by East City Films. Darren says: “We are delighted to bring In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats back to where it all started, Coventry, with our partners at Warwick University.
“This experience celebrates the acid house pioneers Amnesia House that came out of the West Midlands and help shape a youth culture revolution.We are immensely proud of this experience, which has grown and developed since it first premiered in 2022.Now it is bigger and better than ever, allowing audiences to navigate this VR adventure as collective experience: together they can explore, interact, dance and feel the euphoria that was Acid House. It’s a trip!”
The homecoming residency of In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is part of the incredible celebrations for The University of Warwick’s 60th Anniversary, which has already seen the institution build up to a legacy mural art piece as part of the Retreat to Create project with top UK artist David Speed, a world-changing Festival of Innovation, as seen on Sky News, and the upcoming Poetry Trail: A Science Art Collision.
The 60th anniversary celebrations will culminate in the stunning Global Illuminations Light Festival in November, as the University publicly reaffirms its commitment to creating a better world, together.
Hosting In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is the perfect example of the University’s innovative thinking combined with a love for modern technology, whilst not forgetting the importance of providing creative outlets for the community. Residencies like In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats will ensure the 60th anniversary creates a lasting legacy globally and a precedent for future collaborations.
For more information, visit The University of Warwick 60th Anniversary page.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact: press@warwick.ac.uk
You can watch a trailer of the event here, and listen to a Spotify playlist inspired by the event here.
Pricing:
·£24.50 a ticket / £16.00 for U26 (Tickets available here.)
About In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats:
In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats was created by immersive artist Darren Emerson and produced by East City Films, with the original version funded by the BFI awarding National Lottery funding and Coventry City of Culture Trust. The tour is jointly supported by Arts Council England and BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund.East City Films also received funding from Innovate UK, which is all about helping innovative ideas to flourish.
East City Films is creating 'experiences of the future'. Experiences that take audiences on incredible journeys to the past to reconnect with our shared history and humanity. Experiences that are leading the convergence of theatre, film, music, gaming and visual art to create epic adventures that audiences will never forget.
More on The University of Warwick:
The University of Warwick is one of the UK’s leading universities, marking its 60th anniversary in 2025. With over twenty-eight thousand students from 147 countries, it's currently ranked 8th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide. It has an acknowledged reputation for excellence in research and teaching, for innovation, and for links with business and industry. The recent Research Excellence Framework classed 92% of its research as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. The University of Warwick was awarded Midlands University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times.