A ruthless leader. A devoted assistant. An idiot. A coward. A rebel. You’re familiar with Burning Down the Horse’s eclectic crew the second you step into the theatre. One will ask you for snacks, another will prepare you for war, whatever the interaction it’s hard not to be immediately charmed.
Fishing 4 Chips’ production transports its audience into the high stakes interior of the Trojan horse, a wooden coffin headed straight for Troy. The next hour is what one could describe as a fever dream constructed to shock, excite and thrill even the most doubtful.
The play centres around the tyrannical rule of Odysseus, a self-proclaimed war hero and tactical genius, whose sceptical followers sit in the stalls before him, unaware of the script or its outcome. All that’s known is that tension is brewing, an uprising is imminent and no soldier is safe.
What makes Burning Down the Horse so undeniably brilliant is the strength of its cast. Whilst there is risk of slipping into caricatures or stereotypes, the ensemble play their parts to perfection. Their obvious joy remains prominent throughout, a glee so infectious it spreads through the theatre like wildfire. Even when jabbing at pre-selected audience members, everything is executed with a comradery which could only be shared within a wooden horse. Props are given to a select few and some are even dragged up on stage to aid in acts of rebellion. Wearing jean shorts and dresses they should feel out of place, yet the five cast members are so immersive you easily slip into Ancient Greece, forgetting the modern world outside.
Importantly, the show manages to balance entertainment with some serious subjects. Whilst highly amusing and often cartoonish in his demeanour, Odysseus is a dictator fueled by the promise of violence. This unruly bloodlust acts as a foil to Epeius, a man stuck in the confines of his own creation. The carpenters bid for freedom and moral objection to war forces him into the role of a convincing ringleader. What he lacks in military prowess he compensates for in charm and passion, the character often elevating himself above the audience to address them like a true leader.
Odysseus’ and Epeius’ conflict lays the foundation for a tense, wildly amusing hour. However, it also depicts the struggle between the naive upper class, blinded by their limitless power, and those who live below, struggling to survive on the scraps they are given.
Safe to say, Fishing 4 Chips have created an audacious, award-worthy spectacle. What they lack in set design they more than make up for in stage presence. Every character earns their space, even when sitting in the stalls simply watching the action alongside you. It’s all that’s right with intimate comedy shows and a production which should not be missed.
Review written by Jessica King
