A plain starred set, a couple of cowboy hats, some fake cigarettes and two extremely dedicated performers. That just about sums up what we were working with when watching And Then The Rodeo Burned Down. Sounds simple right? We are here to tell you this show is anything but simple.

Created and performed by New York based writer/performer duo Chloe Rice and Natasha Roland, the show is a fantastic fusion of clowning, physical theatre and comedy. The story follows an ambitious rodeo cowboy Dale, who dreams about rising above his station, hounded by his smitten shadow, and whose personality is a mixture of Peter Pan’s mischievous shadow and Tinkerbell all mixed in to one.

The show questions and encapsulates what fringe theatre is perfectly, and the road to its ending “who burned the rodeo down?!” is anything but straight forward. We know what the ending is, but how do we get there? We don’t want to give too much away but as the piece progresses, the show has a definite shift that brings a totally unique layer to the piece.

Rice and Roland are effortless from start to finish, bubbling with energy and unquestionably in sync. They perform with a seamless  unity that only performers who have worked together for years could do. What we loved the most is that they aren’t scared to stray away from conformity in the structure of their storytelling. We admire their resolve and think it paid off.

And Then The Rodeo Burned Down provides a satisfying sized plate of food for thought. Like the title betrays how the story ends, we know how life ends, but it’s what we do before getting to the end that’s important, it’s about the journey. In life, we find the path as we go, but whilst we head towards our destination, why not learn to love ourselves along the way?

Quintessentially queer and oozing with love, affirmation and a million questions.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: James Edge

And Then The Rodeo Burned Down plays at the King’s Head Theatre until 11 February, with tickets available here.