Burning Down The Horse at Bosco Theatre, Isle of Wight Review [Ventnor Fringe]
Written by Eleanor for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
Very well timed with the release of The Odyssey, Burning Down the Horse is currently playing at Ventnor Fringe before heading to Edinburgh for the summer.
From the moment you arrive, you’re no longer just an audience member. Before the doors even open, the cast mingle with the queue completely in character, chatting to the crowd as though you’re all comrades preparing for battle. One audience member wearing Roman-style sandals was even complimented on his “battle-ready footwear”. It’s a brilliant introduction to the personalities you’ll be spending the next hour with, from the commanding leader and the organised second-in-command to the slightly slower, loveable soldier who provides plenty of laughs.
That immersive feeling continues throughout the performance. As the audience take their seats, the cast remain in character, with Ajax (Sam Stafford) and Echeon (Sean Wareing) already amongst the crowd before the action begins. Once on stage, we’re introduced to the meticulously organised Acamas (Lottie Lemoss), before Odysseus makes a suitably grand entrance, complete with instructions for the audience to stand in his honour. We also meet Epeius (William Huke), the unfortunate carpenter who’s accidentally found himself locked inside the Trojan Horse and expected to fight alongside the army, despite being far happier with a hammer than a sword.
Although there are a handful of moments where the audience are invited to join in, including standing, voting and a few enthusiastic chants, it’s never overwhelming. A couple of audience members are brought into the action a little more, but they’re spoken to beforehand, so there are no unexpected surprises. Even when you’re not directly involved, the cast constantly make eye contact and speak to you as though you’re part of the army, rather than simply performing at an audience, making the whole experience feel engaging without being intimidating.
The script is packed with clever jokes, with a few rewarding those who know their Ancient Greek mythology. References to a certain hero being absent because it was Mother’s Day, and another suffering from an unfortunate heel injury, landed particularly well. One of my favourite details was the characters exclaiming “Oh my gods”, a tiny but perfectly judged touch that added to the humour without drawing attention to itself.
At just an hour long, Burning Down the Horse barely pauses for breath, delivering constant laughs, unexpected twists and a healthy dose of creative licence with the story of the Trojan Horse.
Created by Fishing4Chips, the show has a wonderfully Horrible Histories-esque feel, making Greek mythology accessible, funny and entertaining for all ages.
Burning Down the Horse is now heading to Edinburgh for the rest of the summer, playing at Friesian at Underbelly, Bristo Square from August 5th.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
