SMASHING TIME SET TO BE ALL THE RAGE
HAD a tough day at work? Looking for a good way to blow off some steam? How does smashing up items with baseball bats, sledgehammers and golf clubs sound?
You’ll soon be able to do just that thanks to what is believed to be Wales’ first ever “rage room”, which is opening up in Swansea.
Decked out in heavy-duty overalls, gloves and full-face protective head gear, customers can go to town on crockery and other items to ease the frustrations of the day, or even mark events like birthdays.
It is the idea of Declan Stuart, who has brought what is thought to be Wales’ first ever rage room to Swansea – and it’s called Destruction Time.
“The idea is to provide a space where you can get rid of your anger, or your stress, or any emotional frustration. Or you could do it just for fun.
“The first rage rooms was in Canada, but it spread to America and there are rage rooms now all over the world.
“But there are only two in England, and this is the first in Wales.”
As well as televisions, items that people can vent their anger on include guitars, amplifiers, stereos, computers, laptops, lamps and almost every type of mechanical item.
They come from a variety of sources, including house clearances and local charities like the British Heart Foundation, which provide items that they are unable to use or sell on.
Declan says everything smashed is recycled.
He said: “I was working with removal company Mikes on the Move, and with them that can be I saw all sorts of stuff getting thrown out.
“We’d go on a tip run, and I found I was enjoying throwing things into the skips, and I started letting go of my frustration, and I thought it would be good to offer the service to other people.
“It must be better than people going out and getting drunk and causing trouble out in public.
“Some of the stuff we use still works and is almost too good to be destroyed, so if we can we use it elsewhere.”
The rage room is in music venue and studio Creature Sound, the not-for-profit venture run by volunteers, which also provides showers for the homeless.
And in keeping with Creature Sound’s charitable service, a proportion of the money paid to smash up some items is given to the Unity LGBT Centre on the nearby High Street.
Each rage room session is accompanied by music of the customer’s choice – and is all made by local musicians.
Declan said: “I have been close to being homeless, so I wanted to do something to help.
“Every television smashed will see a donation of £5 going towards Unity. We want to help as many people as we can.
“And we are giving unwanted items, the rubbish, a last lease of life.”
Destruction Time is due to open in spring 2019, and costs are expected to range from £15-200 – depending on what people wish to smash.