In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery East City Films 19 Jul - 1 Sept Book

About In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is a euphoric, interactive VR adventure that transports audiences back to the West Midlands in 1989, during the early days of the Acid House movement.

From poster-strewn bedrooms to pirate radio stations, police headquarters to secret warehouses, you’ll step-into the shoes of West Midlands rave culture pioneers as you go in search of the party.

Witness this social phenomenon first-hand, in an immersive exhibition and explorable virtual world set at the end of a turbulent decade in the UK. Combining Acid House tracks with interactivity and multi-sensory simulation.

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats brings to life the stories of the promoters, police officers, and rave-goers, whose rivalries and relationships drove a revolution in music and society.

Book your ticket back to 1989 to share in an experience that shaped a generation; to feel the anticipation, the trepidation, the excitement, and the euphoria, that was Acid House.

Image gallery

  • A person dancing with their hands in the air, they are in front of blue background and are wearing a VR equipment.
  • A person wearing a VR headset and holding controllers is in a dark blue venue, a bright light forming stripes are to the side.
  • Silohette of a person wearing a VR headset and holding controllers in the air, a white light is behind them.
  • Silhouette of a person dancing in front of blue background wearing a VR equipment.
  • A person standing wearing VR headset and holding controllers, behind on the wall is a large graphic of an eye with a smiley face in the middle.
  • A graphic of a person standing in a virtual black world surrounded by small stars and floor with blue lights.
  • A computer generated bedroom with posters on wall a stereo. A hand is holding a leaflet.
  • A computer generated scene showing the back of a car driving along a road that is a grid of green lines. There is a black horizon.
  • A computer generated desk with record player and records on it.
  • A computer generated image of inside a the front of car driving along the road at night.
  • A dark corridor lit with purple lighting and graffiti on the walls.
  • A VR headset on a table with neon lights behind.

I feel nostalgic for something I never actually knew and I become strangely emotional.

The Guardian

One person left In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats moved to tears. Others came out buzzing ready to pick up the phone and get some old mates back together.

NME

…Beats demonstrates VR at its best, able to transport and transcend.

STATE OF THE ARTS

Opening times

Open everyday from 19 July - 1 September:

  • Monday – Thursday, 1pm - 8pm. Last entry 7pm.
  • Friday - Sunday, 10am – 10pm. Last entry 9pm.

Entry

  • Time slots are every hour, please arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your booked time.
  • The VR experience lasts approximately 40 minutes. Allow up to 20 minutes after the VR experience to explore the gallery space.
  • In the Waterhall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Event information

About the experience
  • What is a Virtual Reality (VR) experience?
    A Virtual Reality experience requires you to wear a VR headset within which you are able to see and hear content that transports you into a new environment. You are able to move and change your perspective in VR, and with the use of controllers you are able to interact with the world around you.

  • What equipment will I be wearing?
    You will be wearing a VR headset, and holding a controller in both hands. You will also be wearing a Haptic Vest, which delivers bass vibrations to your body. You will also feel the sense of wind in the experience which is delivered by fans in the installation.

  • What can I expect?
    This VR experience is a cinematic documentary adventure set in 1989, where you get to experience one night during the birth of the Acid House scene. It is a mix of cinema, documentary, gaming and art installation.

  • How long is the experience?
    On average the VR experience lasts 40 minutes. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your allotted start time.

  • What age is the experience suitable for?
    Age 16 plus.

  • Can I wear my glasses?
    Yes you can. Glasses can be worn inside the VR headset and the straps can be adjusted for comfort.

  • Where can I put my personal belongings?
    There will be a cloakroom and possession boxes for you to store your belongings.

  • Where does the VR experience take place?
    The VR experience takes place in the Waterhall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. This is located on Edmund Street, off Chamberlain Square. For full details on getting see How to Get Here.
Ticket and booking information
  • What are the two different ticket options?
    • Premium Ticket - a free roaming experience in which you can walk around virtual spaces.
      There are 6 premium tickets available for each time slot.
    • Standard Ticket - a controller based experience, in which you can stand or sit and teleport around the virtual spaces. (This ticket is also suitable for people with access needs).
      There are 4 standard tickets available for each time slot.
  • Do I need to pre-book?
    Yes pre-booking is essential.

  • Will I receive an e-ticket?
    Your booking confirmation is your ticket, please show this when entering.
Accessibility
  • Is this suitable for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility?
    Yes. This experience is suitable for people using wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Standard tickets enable the use of controllers, which may be preferable for people with limited mobility.
  • Is this suitable for someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing?
    Yes. The experience has subtitles, and the haptic vest gives you an additional sensory experience of the sounds and music.

  • Is this suitable for someone who is Blind or who is visually impaired?
    Yes. As a spatial audio and haptic experience, in which the audience member can hear (through headphones) and feel (through a vibrating haptic vest) all of the content within the experience. Additionally an access pack which describes the visual environments can be read before hand, view the Access Pack online.

  • Is this suitable for someone who has Photosensitive epilepsy?
    VR experiences may be unsuitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy or a history of seizures.

  • Is there a lift to enter the building?
    Yes there is a lift. This can be found to the left of the Waterhall entrance. Press the buzzer for access.

  • Are there accessible toilets?
    There are three all gender accessible toilets in Waterhall.
  • Can I find out more to help me prepare for my visit?
    Yes you can discover more about the experience including behind the scenes videos, the music and more on our In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats Online web page. We also have detailed content description available in our Access Pack.
Health and safety
  • What health and safety issues are there?
    VR experiences may be unsuitable for people with pacemakers, people with photosensitive epilepsy, people with a history of seizures or those who are pregnant.
    There is a Health and Safety briefing before each experience.
  • What hygiene procedures are in place?
    All headsets, controllers and headphones are cleaned after each use.
Terms and Conditions
  • Tickets are not refundable.
  • Late admission cannot be guaranteed, please arrive 10-15 minutes before your booked time slot.
  • No-one intoxicated or visibly under the influence will be allowed to do the experience.
  • Our staff deserve to be treated with respect. No abusive behaviour will be tolerated. We reserve the right to refuse entry.

In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats was originally commissioned and presented as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 and supported by the BFI Film Fund, awarding National Lottery Funding.

Choose ticket type and book:

Further content for In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats