Outrageous 'The House of Life' Promises to Change Your Life (in 65 Minutes)

"The House of Life" has been a huge hit in the fringe circuit across the pond, being called "The Fringe's biggest feel-good sensation" by The Telegraph and a "glittering benediction from a joyously funky double act" by The Guardian. The two-person, one-of-a-kind cabaret show promises a sermon, a rebirth, and a joyous celebration, but it's not the kind of religious experience you'd find in a church on Sunday morning.

The proceedings, if you will, are led by the glitter-clad, beat-dropping RaveRend, with music by his trusty sidekick, Trev. What happens once the unusual duo emerge from behind the glitter curtain is driven largely by the response of the crowd. The duo's goal is to "banish blues and summon elation." Anything is possible, but if past performances are any indication, you can expect a wacky, wild, wonderfully joyous experience with a room full of strangers.

Luckily, the next leg of its fringe-style world tour will include two "pop-up" performances in New York City. Here's your chance to catch the show The List called a "funky feel-good confessional." Playbill said it was "a hell of a good time." It might be time to join the RAVEolution.

EDGE recently had the chance to catch up with RaveRend himself, Ben Welch, as he prepared for the next leg of the tour. Because of his busy schedule and the time difference, we had to chat the old-fashioned way, by email.

EDGE: How do you explain House of Life to people you meet?

Ben Welch: House Of Life is a travelling musical cult collective with one mission: To get you happy at any cost. It's an eight-step guide to ultimate enlightenment hosted by the glitter clad RaveRend (me) alongside my trusty sidekick, Trev (Lawrence Cole).

It's a musical theatre cabaret show event happening, that is, happening... again. This time we're heading to New York City as part of our "world tour," which we are very excited about! This also means that the total length of glitter curtain now needed is almost the full length of an athletic track, and that surely is all you need to know, right?!

EDGE: How did this show come into being?

Ben Welch: It was a response to the world feeling like it was falling apart post-COVID, and trying to create something that challenged that and proposed that if we face the light and the dark together, we might make it through. I had also had a big loss in my life and was finding a way to process that. What better than a travelling musical cult collective with one mission, to get you happy at any costs?

EDGE: You describe the show as one part sermon, one part rebirth, and one part party. You're doing all that in 65 minutes?

Ben Welch: We gotta pack it in! We've only got 65 minutes (sometimes 75 depending on the vibes...) to extract the sadness from people and leave them feeling 100% never sad again. We must go back and rebirth in order to go forward. And if we don't end the party during the process, what's the point?!

EDGE: What do you mean by that?

Ben Welch: It's important for us to leave the experience with an element of party for people to take with them!

EDGE: You were a big hit in London and Edinburgh. Are you changing anything as you take the show on the road?

Ben Welch: We always want to be flexible to the places where we're trying to spread the joy. The show is so much about how the audience interacts, and what they're prepared to contribute. That is naturally different within different cultures. We toured to Oslo earlier this year, which was a whole different energy to the raucous Edinburgh Fringe crowd. We can't wait to see how New Yorkers will take to the vibes.

EDGE: What was the energy in Oslo?

Ben Welch: It was a slightly more reserved response, but they were intently listening. After the show, many of the crowd said it was the most energetic they'd ever seen a Norwegian crowd.

EDGE: As for New York City, you never know what to expect. What would make it the best experience for RaveRend and Trev?

Ben Welch: We'd love for the New York crowd to get on board with the House of Life, to put their trust in the House of Life and genuinely connect with each other and with us.

EDGE: Who is your typical audience?

Ben Welch: The House of Life has changed the lives of over seven million and 77 people across the planet. Okay, maybe that's just an estimate.

We've honestly had such a wide range of supporters for the show. From a buzzy queer artistic scene all the way through to our favorite audience member ever, 94-year-old Wilma, who became the star of the show with her wild requests to pour champagne on us whilst downing her gin and tonic!

The show is about connection while the world feels more disparate than ever. Our aim is to find connection with strangers, whoever they are, wherever they're from.

EDGE: Will audience members leave the experience covered in glitter?

Ben Welch: You best believe it. It is consensual glitter, though... but we hope to have left our mark in many ways, as well as the glitter.

EDGE: Is the music all original music?

Ben Welch: Of course! We make many of the tunes along with the audience. But we've got a whole host of House of Life bangers to take audiences through their soundtrack to ascension. The trusty Trev is holding down all the music and wires and instruments. Expect loop stations, Chicken Mummy sax solos and filthy bass lines.

EDGE: What are House of Life bangers?

Ben Welch: Banging tunes!

EDGE: How about Chicken Mummy sax solos and filthy bass lines?

Ben Welch: Chicken Mummy is an integral part of the show, which people will have to come and find out... Filthy bass lines are floor filler dance tunes to get you moving.

EDGE: The House of Life has been called a "funky feel-good confessional." Am I going to have to confess anything to a room full of strangers?

Ben Welch: We hope you leave having gotten something off your chest, yes. Nothing compulsory, but it's all about creating the vibe so people feel comfortable sharing their dreams and want to have a moment to celebrate their loved ones and maybe even have a scream.

EDGE: You refer to the show as "a place to let it all out." Please explain... this could go horribly awry in certain parts of New York City.

Ben Welch: We want people to feel safe. And joyous. It's a chance to come together and build something of a community in a short amount of minutes. We set it up in a way that safely allows people to get things off their chest. Always celebratory. Even when tackling the dark stuff.

EDGE: What's the most outrageous (in a good way) thing that's happened at one of your shows?

Ben Welch: Wilma, the 94-year-old legend. In a very early stage of the show, we used to ask people how they wanted to end the show. Wilma asked if she could pour a bottle of champagne over the RaveRend and lick it off. And that she did. But it was Prosecco, as it was fringe theatre...

We've also had lots of collective tears, whole-audience conga lines, and a 10-year-old beatboxing champion take the stage.

EDGE: Conversely... what's the worst that happened?

Ben Welch: We honestly haven't had a worst thing. We've had some close calls, namely that I've got my 6-inch-high heeled boot caught in the wires and pulled the whole looper and sound system crashing to the stage in the opening number. And somehow it didn't break!

EDGE: Do you often wear six-inch high heels shoes?

Ben Welch: Mainly just in performance.

EDGE: How did you learn to walk in them?

Ben Welch: I have sturdy ones that allow me to flow and move around! I was a pantomime dame in Liverpool UK for a couple of years, so I am used to fabulous footwear!

EDGE: What's life on the road like for RaveRend and Trev?

Ben Welch: Lots of biscuits. Lots of glitter slash curtains. Lots of Trev getting the directions round. He's doing a good job. I checked the flights; he'd booked to York in England, instead of New York City!

EDGE: Let's hope you get here. I'd like you to think of EDGE as "a place you can let it all out." What is your wildest dream for House of Life?

Ben Welch: We'd love to be travelling the world with this show for many years to come. To mold the show to fit into theaters and festivals, and maybe even stadiums. And to see what the sequel in the House of Life World would be.

"The House of Life" will be performed on Friday, June 20, 7:30pm at the Dollar Bill, 260 Meserole StreetBrooklyn, NY; and on Sunday, June 22 at 5:30pm at WARA – home of BATSU!, 67 1st Avenue, NYC, NY. For more information, visit the show's website.