Illegal rave play dances into Malvern

Published: 6 March 2025
Reporter: Steve Orme

Writer and director: Rachel Tobin

Six actors are needed for the première of a play which has taken 20 years to write: Rachel Tobin’s The Last Free Rave.

Tobin is also directing the play about the Castlemorton Rave. What started out in 1992 as a small, free festival for travellers not only went down in history as the biggest illegal rave ever in the UK but resulted in a trial costing £4 million and the passing of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

“The idea has been whirling in my head for many years, from living on Castlemorton Common and hearing the local stories about the event,” said Tobin.

She is looking for six actors, two for each of three parts. The play features a 50-year-old farmer and his wife along with a hippy aged between 25 and 35. She is also looking for someone to work with the archive footage films of the event and a lighting person. These are not paid positions but profits from ticket sales will be shared.

Rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings in Malvern. The first will be at 7PM on Tuesday 18 March at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern.

The Last Free Rave will be performed at 2:30 and 7:30PM on Saturday 9 August in the Coach House Theatre, Malvern as part of the Malvern Pen and Curtain Festival. Tobin also hopes to tour the show to small venues and village halls.

Anyone interested in finding out more should email [email protected].

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