During one hazy night in the middle of 1991, a 16-year-old Ben Tagoe was experiencing the bright lights of the Rhumba Club in Perth,
Scotland for the first time. A night soundtracked by house legends Dave Seaman and Slam, it was an awakening of sorts that has gone on to have a continued impact more than 30 years on. Ben, a playwright and former Coronation Street scriptwriter, says those early days at the Rhumba saw him transition from a huge Happy Mondays and Stone Roses fan into someone ‘lost in house music’. Whilst not autobiographical, Ben’s new show Better Days, which will be held at The Yard in Cheetham Hill on April 13, tells a somewhat similar story of 90s youth through the lens of music. The one-man show centres on the character of Danny, a 19-year-old in 1990, who finds himself torn between the thriving house
music scene and the gang of
Football hooligans he is fiercely loyal to. READ MORE: Legendary Salford music venue to reopen after 10 year hiatus “The 90s were my massive coming of age years,” Ben, now 48, tells the M.E.N. “I remember going to Gold Rush Records in Perth and buying Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches by the Happy Mondays on vinyl as soon as it came out and just rushing home to put it on. Within two years of that, I was just lost in house music - but I saw that band as the real bridge between the transition.” Taking on the role of Danny is 24-year-old
Actor George Martin, originally from Hull. While Better Days is set in a ‘typical’ northern city during the early 90s, the play's booming soundtrack from local legends, like the aforementioned Happy Mondays and Stone Roses, and its themes involving music and football means it might as well be set in Manchester. Better Days writer Ben Tagoe “The amount of people that have just assumed the play is set in Manchester is really interesting," Ben says. "Even though George isn’t from Manchester and it isn’t set there, people hear the music and just think of Manchester.” George, who has previously appeared in Hollyoaks , says that whilst he wasn’t around to experience the 90s house scene directly, he still has an appreciation for it. “I’ve always been a lover of the house music era, especially during the 90s, and my favourite nights out have always been those reminisce nights,” he explains. “My mum was fairly young in the 90s but she was always telling me about the coach trips down to different parts of the country to these raves. I always felt like I missed out on that, so this show is sort of my little slice of what that was like. “I remember first reading the script as if it was an exaggerated version of what happened, but after having conversations with people who were ravers back in the day, I realised that it was so real. I remember speaking to my uncle one day and he literally quoted verbatim about four lines from the script. That’s when it hit me.” George Martin as Danny in Better Days (Image: Better Days) Having heard of the play through mutual connections in the soap world, George said his audition for Better Days was a ‘bit of a mental one’. “My mobile phone was broke and I couldn’t find the venue so I turned up late and it was all destined for gloom really,” he explained. “But the audition itself went really well, me and Ben really got on. I discussed my love for the era and I just tried to learn the opening scene off by heart. I got the call that evening - it was a very quick turnaround.” Since its premiere last year, the show has been touring up and down the country - and there is now even a television series currently in development based on the play. Being part of the show since its inception, George says he has heard how people have found a real connection with the character of Danny and its setting. Ben (centre) during his clubbing days in the 90s (Image: Ben Tagoe) “The best feedback you can ever get is when people say you’ve just told their life story,” he explains. “I found it quite profound how people have deeply connected to it. It does feel like the 90s were one of the last major generational movements. It feels like it was a really pivotal moment that is now regurgitating itself with my generation.” Speaking about the character of Danny, George said: “He thinks he’s got quite wise shoulders, but his mum left, he doesn’t have a good relationship with his dad and those demons and that baggage he’s got comes out in ways of violence - that’s his release. He’s a very closed book to begin with, he’s very sceptical of everything. “His best friend has found a new scene of house music but he feels that’s very much not for him - he’s all about the violence, beer, girls and the music he is into is very specific, it’s the guys with swagger - like the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. “But you basically see his whole perspective on life change. The house music scene completely opens him up in different ways. He’s a very interesting character to play - there’s a lot of depth to him.” The show features music from Manchester bands like the Happy Mondays (Image: Daily Record) Ben, who has also recently been selected to be part of
BBC Studios’ Writer Spotlight Initiative, has been touched how the show has been recognised by so many people. He says the standing show, aimed to imitate a nightclub, has also opened the door to audiences not often found at traditional theatre settings. It also happens to help that it features a soundtrack from artists including Frankie Knuckles and 808 State. “The best shows are the ones where people just sing and dance in-between but tune back in when George comes back on stage,” he explains. “One of my biggest things with this show was to create something for people who may never have set foot in a theatre before. It’s a nice parallel between a gig and a show.” Ben, who now lives in Leeds, adds of the 90s theme: “It’s interesting that the 90s have remained so popular and special. I feel like people are just looking for nostalgia and a bit of hedonism. You’ve got to be forward thinking too, but I feel like a lot of us feel lucky to have come of age during that time. George says he has heard from audiences about their connection to the play and the 90s (Image: Better Days) “It has been referred to as the last great youth movement, and there’s a lot of cool stuff going on now and us oldies can tend to often be quite dismissive of that, but it really was a special time. “I was probably just about part of the last generation of people that can remember early adulthood without a mobile phone, or even the possibility of owning one. If you missed your mates in town on Saturday night, you’d be on pay phones trying to find them.” Working on Coronation Street from 2015 to 2018, Ben says he was able to ‘find his voice’ whilst writing episodes for the show. Taking part in the live episode in 2015 to mark the soap’s 60th anniversary, he was also part of the dramatic exit of Callum Logan, played by Sean Ward. “My first episode aired on February 15, 2015 - I can still remember the date,” Ben says. “Being part of Coronation Street was a massive moment for me. It really helped kickstart my career and found a home for my voice. I think my voice is quite working-class orientated and Corrie was the best show for me to explore that. Ben described the 1990s as his 'coming of age years' (Image: Ben Tagoe) “The live episode was an amazing experience to be a part of. As the writers, we were all watching next door as it was being filmed live on the street and that was a great moment. "I’ve always had a real, strong connection to Manchester - for me, my teenage years were soundtracked by those big Manchester records. I have a cousin who grew up in Longsight and I used to spend a bit of time with him there.” For Better Days, Ben and George say that the show has also received the seal of approval from some of the artists featured in the show. Manchester legend Rowetta has been a ‘real supporter of the show’, whilst Slam have also been to see the production. “Guys who were quite instrumental in the scene have referred to it as the best representation of that time,” Ben explains. “For us, that has been a real massive pat on the back.” Better Days will take place at The Yard (11 Bent Street, M8 8NF) on April 13. The show will be followed by an after party featuring music from Chris Massey. Tickets here.