Lara’s Comedy Hypno Rave, Etcetera Theatre
We march on with Camden Fringe 2025 interviews. We want to give you just a taste of what this four week festival has to offer and why fringe theatre is the best place to be if you want to see new and exciting works. We are publishing new interviews each and every day of July, You can find them all here.
Lara’s Comedy Hypno Rave promises to be an immersive hypnosis stage show, combining comedy with incredible feats of hypnotic mind altering lunacy. Expect to see audience volunteers have their feet stuck, hands locked, forget their names and general hypnotic hilarity.
We found some time to chat to show creator and hypnotist, Lara Cox, to ask some questions, on the one condition she wouldn’t try to hypnotise us into doing anything silly.
Lara’s Comedy Hypno Rave plays at Etcetera Theatre on 9 and 24 August, tickets here.
What can audiences expect from the show?
Get ready for some mind bending reality that will take you on a trip like you’ve not seen since the 1990’s. You the volunteers from the audience will become the stars of the show, travelling back in a hypnotic trance to the heart of the 90’s rave scene. This immersive hypnosis stage show combines comedy with feats of hypnotic lunacy. Expect to see security officers, dancers, clubbers waiting for the toilet and of course the police. Just remember, if you’re name’s not down, you’re not coming in.
Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage, or have you already performed elsewhere?
This will be the first time I perform this show. I chose Camden because it’s where raving started for me and it’s such a cool location for music and theatre.
What was your inspiration behind the show?
I’m a hypnotherapist by day and drew a connection between my early experiences of trance and raving and going into hypnosis and it just seems like such fun. I’ve been working on this show for about three months now.
Is this version how you originally envisioned it or has it changed drastically since you first put pen to paper?
It’s pretty close to what it was. Unlike theatre shows, hypnosis shows rely on the volunteers to find full expression. I was draw to this because of my love of comedy, hypnosis and raving.
What has been the biggest challenge in realising the writer’s vision for the show?
One of the most challenging things about doing a hypnosis stage show is that many people are scared of hypnosis, there are lots of laws that make it hard to perform and the show relies on a good number of audience members. If I don’t have a minimal number, it won’t be possible to go ahead.
How important is audience interaction to you?
The audience is the show. It’s paramount.
Are there any plans for what comes next after the show has finished its run – for you or the show?
Yes. I want to take over and dominate the festivals like Glastonbury. (I’m saying this slightly tongue in cheek…slightly)
If your show had a soundtrack what songs would definitely be on it?
Open Your Mind
If you could perform this show anywhere in the world where would it be?
UK, Glastonbury. Because that’s where it belongs. (If you paid me a lot of money I might consider going to Vegas. They like me in Vegas)
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received during your career, and how has it influenced your work on this show?
Fuck it. (I got this advice from myself in a hypnotic trance and everything changed)
Lara’s Comedy Hypno Rave plays at the Etcetera Theatre on Saturday 9 and Sunday 24 August.
Note: This is a hypnosis show which brings the party vibe and is targeting an adult audience who liked raving, parties and exploring states of consciousness. This is a strictly 18 + event.
