Raver Emmy tells it like it was back in the 90s

Rave culture will be revived by someone who was there in Second Summer Of Love at Farnham Maltings on July 17 at 7.30pm.

Writer Emmy Happisburgh said: “I went to my first rave in 1989. It was in a field in Alfold and was shut down by the police just as I got there - which was just as well because my parents thought I was at a sleepover at a friend’s.

“After that, I concentrated on my school and theatre work for a while, but I did find myself at the legendary Sterns on Highdown Hill near Worthing in the early 1990s.

“This was a club night held in an old manor house. It looked like it was haunted from the outside but inside it was full of hundreds of teenagers, ultraviolet backdrops and a new kind of music called House.

‘The Underground - Sterns’ basement - was my favourite dance floor of the era. I will never forget the feeling of unity in that place.”

Emmy, who teaches at Farnham’s KLDC Sixth performing arts college, said: “It’s always exciting to do a home gig. There are friends in the audience and a lot of ex and current ravers have got behind the production, including some of the original Sterns team. I feel genuinely humbled that they like my show.”

The script has been published by playdeadpress.com, added Emmy: “There are lots of great monologues for mid-life actresses, or it could be fully cast for mid-life actors or amateur dramatics.”

Emmy said some of her students will watch: “I do hope it doesn’t make them see me in a different light, but at the end of the day they know the story is fictional - and my students are luckily much more sensible than I was at their age!”

The Farnham show has sold out but there is a waiting list for returned tickets. Visit https://farnhammaltings.com/ for details. Second Summer of Love will also be staged in Cranleigh Arts Centre on October 4.