Tom Chetwode-Barton Brings 2006 Rave Scene to Life with VR Experience Ôl

Tom Chetwode-Barton recreates the 2006 Llanberis rave scene through Ôl, an immersive VR experience blending Welsh music and early social media nostalgia.

Tom Chetwode-Barton: Producer of the Project

Turning back the clock to relive the teenage years is a dream for many. This is precisely what film producer Tom Chetwode-Barton from Anglesey has achieved through the production Ôl.

Ôl transports audiences back to Llanberis in 2006, a time when the web and social media were in their infancy and young people were adapting to a rapidly changing society.

This was the kind of life Tom experienced growing up, and through the use of VR (virtual reality) and a production rich in Welsh-language music, people in 2026 can experience what it was like to attend raves in 2006 and live the creative lifestyle of that era.

Disgrifiad o’r llun, Un o'r delweddau o fynyddoedd llechi Llanberis yn y cynhyrchiad

An Immersive VR Experience

Tom explained on the Llwyfan programme on BBC Radio Cymru:

"Ôl is an immersive VR experience, telling the story of a young queer boy during a night out partying in North Wales.

"The story includes nostalgia, mixed media, and pieces of media from the National Library of Wales Archive.

"Basically, it’s about being young somewhere like North Wales, where I grew up with the party scene and techno and rave music," he said.

The experience is led by two different actors; in Welsh by Steffan Donnelly (Theatr Cymru), and in English by Welsh star Callum Scott-Howells (It's a Sin).

"It’s a mix of game, film, and theatre all at once. It’s a new form of media that is growing and developing very rapidly and can be very emotional.

"It was important to me that all the music is in Welsh; artists like Super Furry Animals, Datblygu, Venetian Snares, but also electronic music.

"It’s a kind of mix of what is Welsh, what comes from Wales, and also about the history of electronic music.

"I grew up going to free parties. There’s nothing more Welsh than someone setting up a rig in a field somewhere and starting some kind of party.

"I think there’s a very unique vibe about free parties, a kind of rave spirit, and I think there’s a unique spirit in Welsh because everyone is welcome.

"There’s no judging anyone, no prejudice.

"Everyone is just there to look after each other and have an incredible night," he added.

Realiti Rhithiol — Disgrifiad o’r llun, Mae defnyddwyr yn gwisgo peiriant realiti rithwir ar eu pennau

Technology and Social Media in 2006

The experience of wearing the VR headset offers people the chance to step back into a very different era in terms of technology and social media influence.

It was also a time before AI technology impacted individuals' daily lives.

It was an exciting period for people like Tom, who says that discovering early social media helped them cope with their identity.

"I grew up in 2006 but I also think that period was very interesting because it was like the internet was really a part of all our lives.

"It was like the Wild West, where many young people, especially people like me, were discovering things like Tumblr, for example. Without Tumblr, I wouldn’t have known anything about queer culture at all," he said.