Mourners, divorcees, blind men: The customers healing through destruction at Adelaide’s rage and smash rooms

From heartbroken mourners to divorcees destroying wedding gifts, Adelaide’s rage rooms are attracting people intent on cathartic destruction. See the video.

Vengeance-seeking divorcees, heartbroken mourners and bullied schoolkids are finding the perfect outlet for their emotions at Adelaide’s rage rooms, where clients pay to smash items into pieces.

Project Break in Dry Creek, and Lumberjaxe Axe Throwing in Lonsdale, both offer rooms where customers don protective gear, grab a weapon and break stuff – usually crockery.

Lumberjaxe Axe Throwing owner Heath Stockman said recently broken up customers had brought in photos of their former lovers to affix to the back wall, before throwing crockery at the offending image.

“People that have just broken up with partners, they come in (with) all their ex-partner’s stuff that they smash,” he said.

“Divorcees bring in stuff from their wedding and smash them up.

“We had a guy come in that lost his partner, the week or so before. He’d pretty much come a couple of days after the funeral.

Daisy Wooley, 21, at Project Break in Dry Creek, where unexpected customers are finding relief. Picture: Matt Loxton

“And he came in and just, you know, went crazy. Came out, tears in his eyes, and said it was the best thing he’s ever done.”

Staff at Lumberjaxe regularly hear customers “going nuts, screaming, yelling – you can hear it all from the outside, that’s for sure”.

Mr Stockman said the rampages are also popular with pent up 12 and 13-year-old boys.

“Mum and dad don’t want them smashing stuff in the back shed or out in the backyard, so they come down and they smash it here,” he said. “And they don’t have to clean it up.”

The business owner admitted it is difficult hearing some customers’ stories, but he said helping them heal made it worthwhile.

Customers are healing through destruction at smash and rage rooms in Adelaide. Picture: Matt Loxton

“When those people come out and they’ve been crying or they’re laughing, it feels good,” he said. “We’re helping in a small way.”

At Project Break, manager Deon Fiedler said the rooms were also popular with people with disabilities who find the activity inclusive, cathartic and fun.

“We have a guy that’s blind that comes in and smashes stuff,” he said. “He just enjoys the noise.

“He’ll even get in there and throw axes. Unfortunately, he’s never landed one, but just the feel of throwing an axe and hearing the noise, he loves it.”

Another regular customer, Casey, brought in her wedding dress to Project Break as a target for axe-throwing after a tough divorce. She also smashed one of her wedding gifts.

Project Break once hosted a group of bullied schoolkids.

“They don’t know how to express their emotions … And they go into these smash rooms a bit nervous, but they come out again with a big smile on their face, just feeling good,” Mr Fiedler said.

At Lumberjaxe Axe Throwing, customers often pick heavy metal to soundtrack their rampage, although some opt for classical composers including Beethoven.

Project Break’s most popular song choice is Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit, while a recent group of ladies enjoyed destroying stuff to the tunes of ABBA.

Staff at rage rooms can unexpectedly find themselves in a position akin to a therapist, as customers open up about their life’s difficulties.

“We just let them talk, because obviously we’re not trained to give advice,” Mr Fiedler said. “If people want to have a chat, I tell my team, ‘just listen to them’ … Try not to get too involved at the same time, but make sure they’re okay and welcome them back.”

Rage room customers use weapons including crowbars, bats, metal poles, tired irons and hammers.

Mr Fiedler said Project Break buys crockery from Vinnies and Red Cross and recycles the leftovers, but Mr Stockman from Lumberjaxe declined to reveal the source of his breakables, saying he did not want to clue in potential competitors.