Comedian and content creator Munya Chawawa, known for his online videos and characters like Unknown P and Jonny Oliver, is making a shift from social media to stage acting. He will play the character Bottom in a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre in West Sussex. In this version, Bottom is part of a political storyline involving a Conservative MP who has banned free raves in the area. Chawawa’s portrayal explores themes of youth culture and political control, drawing on his interest in the UK’s 1990s rave scene. Chawawa has studied the 1990s illegal rave scene, which he describes as a time of "hedonism and freedom" marked by both public excitement and media fear. He notes that the absence of digital recording back then allowed people to enjoy the experience without the pressure of being filmed or tracked online. Many who attended these raves now look back with nostalgia, longing for the freedom of dancing without the constant presence of digital surveillance. While Chawawa has built his career through social media and short-form videos, he acknowledges the challenges of the current digital landscape. He describes the environment as a "dogfight" where even high-quality content can be quickly overshadowed by algorithms. Despite this, he credits social media with playing a key role in his rise as a stand-up comedian, documentarian, and actor, giving him the freedom to experiment with characters and ideas. Chawawa’s interest in theatre began with seeing The Lion King at age 16, though he felt out of place as a Black man in the theatre world. Inspired by Ryan Calais Cameron’s play For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, he founded the Black Boys Theatre Club to take teenagers to see plays and discuss them afterward. He emphasizes the need for inclusive, safe spaces in the theatre for young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. According to Arts Council England, 10% of theatre audiences in 2023 were from Black, Asian, or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Chawawa acknowledges the progress made by theatres in attracting more diverse audiences but believes lower ticket prices and broader societal change are still needed to make theatre more accessible. He also believes that as people move away from digital experiences, live theatre will see a resurgence, offering a "snow globe of human emotion" where raw, unfiltered emotions can be experienced up close. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from 18 September to 17 October.