Disneyland in Dagenham

Join born storyteller Scott Lavene on his UK tour supporting his upcoming album, Disneyland In Dagenham.

In the 1980s, the Walt Disney Company were considering building their first European theme park not on the outskirts of Paris, but in Dagenham, Essex. In his youth, Scott Lavene used to pick up drugs from a dodgy flat overlooking the proposed site. Disney and Dagenham were never a good fit, he thought, as he stood on the balcony one evening as the sun set, awaiting an overdue hash delivery.

It never happened of course – perhaps the multinational corporation were put off by the sewage works and car factories that Mickey Mouse and Goofy would have counted as their neighbours. So he recalls on the title track of his exceptional third album Disneyland In Dagenham, monologuing in warm deadpan over a wandering acoustic guitar. It encapsulates his conflicted feelings about the county he was raised in. “A cowboy kind of place, a bit rough around the edges,” as he puts it.

It’s changed a lot since then. Filming the video for the song, he and his sister took a drive around their old haunts along the A13. “The sewage works don’t smell anymore and they’re now calling Rainham ‘East London’, which is hilarious. It made me grateful for my past, for the shit we could get away with back then.”

“Full of great poignant, funny and sad songs that display the man’s great writing talents. At times he’s David Bowie, Syd Barrett and Ian Dury at the same time.” – Louder Than War

“Mordant, spivvy, pop-punk TMI gabble about the urgency and futility of it all from lyrical Essex motormouth.” – MOJO

“Think Baxter Dury’s warped kid brother.” – The Times

About Scott Lavene

Lavene is one of the original members of The Outsiders Project, performing in the first theatre production, The Vodka Hunters in 2019, and leading on the creative writing workshop programme. A born storyteller, through his records and his writing, Scott Lavene has long been populating a hallucinogenic world of his own creation with ne’er do wells, ragamuffins and eccentrics. With his exceptional third album Disneyland In Dagenham set for release this May via Nothing Fancy, Lavene heads out on the road again, having just done a circuit of the UK in support of The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn.

Content warnings – Expect strong language and references to drugs

Please note that this performance is an alcohol-free space. We won’t be offering drinks and please do not bring your own drinks in. Our theatre in B.A.D. is part of our Safe Homes Network.

Getting to B.A.D. Theatre

If you are coming by bus: Take the M2 bus and get off near Boscanova if coming from Southbourne, or next to Aldi if coming from Poole and Bournemouth. Walk along the highstreet and please come to the main entrance at B.A.D., directly opposite Costa.

If you are coming by train: Pokesdown for Boscombe train station is a 15-20 minute walk to B.A.D. Turning right out of the station, walk straight down Christchurch Road until you reach Marvo Mysteries Escape Room, where you will cross over onto the pedestrianised precinct and continue walking past Boscanova cafe to B.A.D.

If you are coming by car: You can reach us via the A35 and Ashley Road. We would recommend parking in the Sovereign Centre Car Park, from which you can follow directions to the highstreet where you’ll find the main entrance, opposite Costa.

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility needs when it comes to parking or travel, please let us know prior to the event and we will do what we can to support you.

Accessible toilets are also available in Boscombe Sovereign Centre.