Elf Lyons: Horses - On The Mic

Elf Lyons: Horses ★★★★★

This Review is from August 2024

Elf Lyons is an award winning comedian, theatre maker, director, comedy writer, and voice artist. She has earned a cult following as one of the most innovative performers in the diverse universe of comedy and theatre. Her body of work includes re-enactments of classical ballets, musicals about the economy, immersive horror shows, and lectures on the Surrealist movement.

This year she presents the first ever Edinburgh Fringe comedy show performed entirely by a horse.

The horse in question is called Treacle, a playful, occasionally aggressive mare. The horse interviews all her imaginary friends on the farm, like a child at play. Treacle channels a child’s dark innocence, a naïve and a brutal honesty. We hear extracts from Pegasus’ autobiography “our Lord and saviour in the horse community”. And there’s a funny and powerful enactment of a Grand National race featuring a field that includes the Trojan Horse (currently riderless) and the Four Horses of the Apocalypse.

This is Elf Lyons’ wheelhouse, a celebration of the child within. A delightful mix of mime, stand up and clown. It can be dark – it occasionally gets very dark. It’s also beautiful.

I may be missing the point of the show, but it feels like when adults play, someone or something often suffers. As adults at play we frequently hurt ourselves with excess. Why do adults enjoy doing things that are bad for us? Why can’t we play like children?

As I watch Treacle prance around the stage, I’m reminded of going for a trip with my son. Like many kids, he loves the seaside – he laughs and laughs as he’s jumping around in the water. And I realise that I’m enjoying the waves as much as he is. Comparing this show to playing with my son is the highest praise I can give.

Martin Walker

Podcast interview with Elf Lyons