Beats [Paperback]

In 1994 the Criminal Justice Act effectively outlawed raves, banning public gatherings around amplified music characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats.Featuring a soundtrack from a live DJ and psychedelic 90s-inspired visuals, Beats tells the story of Johnno McCreadie, a teenager living in a small suburban Scottish town at the time of the Act. Beats is an award-winning new play by Kieran Hurley; a coming-of-age story exploring rebellion, apathy, and the irresistible power of gathered youth.

Beats was the winner of Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, as well as the winner of The Arches Platform 18 Behaviour Award 2012.

Kieran Hurley is an award-winning writer, performer, and theatre maker based in Glasgow whose work has been presented internationally and throughout the U.K. Theatre includesRantin(National Theatre of Scotland/ The Arches), Beats (The Arches),Hitch(The Arches),Chalk Farmco-written with AJ Taudevin (Oran Mor, ThickSkin). Other theatre includesThe Jean Jacques Rousseau Showas co-writer (Oran Mor),Demonsas co-writer (Oran Mor),London 2012: Glasgow(Theatre Uncut). At the time of print, Kieran is currently playwright in residence with the National Theatre of Scotland as recipient of the Pearson Playwrights' Scheme bursary.

A tremendous piece of storytelling that takes us back to 1994 Guardian

An outstanding show; clever, ruthless, compassionate, full of political insight - with a subtlety, humanity that takes the breath away The Scotsman

The most exhilarating, urgent response to the events of last summer (2011 UK riots) that I've ever seen. A must. Independent

Hurley delivers the performance with an eye-popping intensity Time Out

An original, urgent piece of theatre Telegraph

Deceptively brilliant The Herald

Beats is theatre at its most vital and electrifying Metrol#.