'Good clowning takes skill'

Comedian Elf Lyons chats to us before her award-winning show hits the West Country

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COMEDIAN clown Elf Lyons is touring with her award-winning Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Horses, with dates in both Bristol and Bath.

Horses is a show about play, the power of pretending, and why silliness is a feminist political issue, told through clown and mime by this physical performer embodying a horse. Elf brings attention to the tragedy of becoming an adult and losing our ability to play. How can we regain it?

Prepare yourself for a deeply emotional hour celebrating the child within, performed entirely by a horse named Treacle, as portrayed by Elf.

We caught up with the Bristol Uni drama graduate to find out what's in store...

What can we expect from Horses?

Expect big laughs, big shocks, excessive violence and bloodshed, some very silly bits, and possibly some tears. Horses is a chaotic cocktail of comedy, clowning, mime, theatre, and pure emotion. It's packed with nostalgia, absurdity, and a fair amount of existential dread - oh, and, of course, a lot of horses.

What do you think makes the show connect so strongly with audiences?

I never really know which parts of my shows will resonate with people or who they'll affect the most. One of the biggest surprises with Horses has been the number of men who get unexpectedly emotional by the end. I also love seeing people return with their friends and family - it's the best compliment. At its core, Horses is about nostalgia, grief and the strange, bittersweet process of growing up. Parents who have watched their children grow up often say that it reminds them of watching their children transition from innocence to adulthood. Adults remember what it was like to play, and everyone - whether they realise it or not - feels that quiet ache for something they've lost. Also, horses love it. And anyone who has met a horse, or simply admired one from a respectful distance, seems to love it too.

Did you do any unusual research for Horses?