Protein — The Third Dimension

Catalogue note

Original double-sided Protein 'The Third Dimension' flyer for Saturday 8 June 1991 at Wirrina Sports Complex, Bishops Road, Peterborough. Its highly distinctive blue, black and white checkerboard sphere tunnel, electrified smiling orb imagery and small futuristic humanoid contrast with a dense reverse listing Rob Acteson, Mike Bolton, Linden C, Mr Clubman, Stuart Banks and Mikey B, £10 advance plus £1 agent fee, ticket agents spanning East Anglia and a 11:30pm entry cutoff. The flyer announces a new venue and enlarged Protein production. Independent participant-led East London rave histories establish Acteson and Linden C's Hypnosis/Dungeons background; contemporary music writing documents Mr Clubman at a Peterborough night in early 1991. Separately, Wirrina later hosted the Prodigy in September 1991. Actual event performances and illustrator identity remain unverified.

Advertised programme: Six named DJs: Rob Acteson, Mike Bolton, Linden C, Mr Clubman, Stuart Banks, Mikey B. 'Plus more top DJ's to be confirmed' — no further names stated; advertising does not verify actual attendance.

Graphic-design significance: Extraordinarily imaginative early-1990s psychedelic 'dimension' design: repeating floating smiling checkerboard globes within a black cosmic space, blue-white flashes, a luminous jagged chain of lightning, a huge convex checkerboard floor, and a stylised mechanical humanoid/figurine at the focal front beneath the spheres. Stark deep-blue/white PROTEIN title and tiny illegible lower-left graphic mark. The reverse switches to utilitarian bold black text and extensive ticket-outlet hierarchy. Original artist and printing process unknown.

Historical context: The flyer openly presents itself as 'the next phase of the Protein Experience' and says moving to a 'new venue' allows increased lasers, sound and visuals. Its six-person programme and strict no-entry-after-11:30 rule show an early large-venue rave working with regional record-store shops and phone ticket agents in Peterborough, Kings Lynn, Wisbech, Newmarket, Colchester and Cambridge. Independent venue historical sources date The Prodigy's Total Domination appearance at Wirrina to 13 September 1991, establishing the hall's later 1991 role as a dance-music venue but not a connection to the specific June Protein event. East London original participant interviews document Linden C and Rob Acteson's 1988–90 Hypnosis/Dungeons involvement, with a London music writer independently recording Mr Clubman advertising a Peterborough event in February 1991; this region-bridging line-up warrants legacy research relevance.

Production note: Blue/pale-lavender/black/white printed artwork on front; black letterpress-like/offset-like text on pale reverse; exact method/ink/paper stock unresolved from photos.

Condition note: Very Good (provisional photographic): apparently flat, intact rectangle with vibrant finely detailed illustrated print and crisp full text reverse. Minor corner/edge softening and sparse small surface marks/age speckles visible, especially at pale reverse edges; slight handling and tonal unevenness; no conspicuous major fold, tear, pinholes, tape, missing paper or over-writing. Not described as Mint.

Confidence / uncertainty: Original directly verifies exact 8 June 1991 date, venue and address, six named bills, original fee £10+£1, doors 8pm until late, after 11:30 no entry, age and substance policies, record outlets and promise of enhanced effects. External independent sources document artist scene context and Wirrina in same year but no other date-matched Protein physical copy or actual performance. No named maker, dimensions, past Protein venue, ticket sales or attendance verified. Avoid linking the music recording 'Protein' by Sonic Experience or More Protein label to this rave name without evidence.

Through the flyers

Explore the club-culture timeline to follow advertised dates, places and billed performers across the held flyers.

Event details are drawn from the held object and the qualified catalogue research above. A printed bill establishes an advertised booking, not confirmation that a performer appeared.