Review: HOUSE OF LIFE, SOHO Theatre

Ben Welch & Lawrence Cole

If God is a camp drag god, the Holy Spirit is definitely washing over the stage of SOHO Theatre. 

Back at SOHO after a couple sold-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe 23 and 24, and their previous SOHO run, House of Life returns with the same beats to funk up the house with a spiritual rave party. Greeted with glitter and wristbands, the RaveRend (Ben Welch) and multitalented Trev (Lawrence Cole) welcome us into their cult rave service. Instantly, we are baptised by silver glitter on our faces. Good vibes in, bad blood out. The duo gives a sermon on the steps to being reborn, promising that no one will leave sad again. Throughout the ‘service’, we learn our neighbour’s name, blood type, and dreams. We chant affirmations and hype each other up. It’s a full-body experience that will get you moving. 

House of Life cleverly turns a familiar church service into a high-energy audience participation game. The call and response, the personal testimonies, the hymn bops. It’s a party disguised as a sermon….or maybe the other way around.

That said, towards the end of the show, there’s a sudden emotional gear shift that feels slightly out of place. Like someone from the marketing team suggested, “Let’s throw in a trauma beat for depth,” and it wasn’t fully integrated. In our opinion, the seeds either need to be planted earlier, or don’t follow the SOHO formula at all. There’s also a tension between the two characters that gets hinted at, but never really pays off—a missed opportunity that feels like a dropped thread. A couple of clearer choices would be beneficial, either go there, or don’t.

Still, the performances are undeniable. Welch is fantastic as the RaveRend—charismatic, quick-witted, and a singer with a beautiful voice. His ability to improvise and work the crowd is unmatched. Cole’s stoic Trev is a brilliant counterpart, bringing dry and grounded humour. Cole is astonishingly versatile as a one-man band. Every time you turn your head, he’s picked up a new instrument.

Visually, the show is exactly where it needs to be. RaveRend’s glorious pink cape tells a whole story on its own. With clever use of live-looping and simple props, they make the space feel alive and uniquely ours every single show. 

Is there a profound message? Maybe not—and that’s fine. House of Life isn’t here to fix you; it’s here to hold you up, throw a rave in your honour, and remind you that sometimes, being loud, sparkly, and joyfully alive is holy in itself. Leaving the theatre, our spirits were lifted. Would we ever be sad again? Probably, but that’s okay, cause we’ve learned that Tom (a fellow audience member) dreams of starting a hippie commune. We’re coming, Tom.

**** Four Stars

Reviewed by Diana Feng