The Wild West’s rowdiest comedy cabaret, Cowboys Comedy, brings a fantastic celebration of up-and-coming performers to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. From impressive lasso skills and hilarious stand-up to mesmerising contortionists and even brilliant musical numbers, this show creates a unique buffet of creativity and talent. Hosted by the wonderfully over-the-top Cowboy Joe (who we were able to chat to on our YouTube channel, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/gNQ9Ima4HZY), the audience is kept on the edge of their seats throughout, with his array of jokes and gags ensuring there’s never a dull moment!
Having been a massive fan of Cowboys Comedy for a very long time and having followed them since their show almost four years ago (which you can read our review of on our website here: https://rhysreviews.com/2022/09/24/kats-jewellery-product-review/), it was obviously an incredibly exciting announcement when the team revealed they would be making the journey from Wales to Scotland to bring one of the most raucous cabaret celebrations to the Edinburgh Fringe. I knew I could not miss the opportunity to see some familiar faces take to the stage! Despite the revolving cast being totally different every night at the Fringe (and drastically different from the performers I have seen in the Cardiff shows), it is painfully clear that the team behind this project have made sure to craft a fully immersive and cohesive world for Cowboys Comedy to live within, as they brought over many of the more unique traditions from their shows to Edinburgh. The show itself contains the classic fart-gun gag, some unpredictable water guns, Cowboy Joe’s wonderful dance routines and even the newly established rocking horse. These were not only brilliant for new audience members, who erupted into laughter whenever they appeared, but also served as a subtle nod to everyone in the crowd (myself included) who may have seen one of the company’s shows before!
The iteration of the show we saw in Edinburgh included performances from not only Cowboy Joe themselves but also the incredible Hannah Carter, who flexed her circus-based talents by delivering a wonderful lasso act that was mesmerising to watch. I cannot get my head around how this performer was able to not only wrap themselves up in spinning ropes, lariat the massive cactus on the stage and even tie up Cowboy Joe. All of this was not only wonderful to watch but also fitted into the Wild West theme of the evening perfectly! The crowd were also treated to a selection of performances from the incredible duo of Chloe Million and Krystal Amber, who showcased their own contortionist skills that blew the audience’s minds. With the incredible positions they could morph their bodies into, the audience simultaneously wanted to look away, as it must be painful (although the performers themselves seemed totally unfazed), but also did not want to take their eyes off these two insane contortionists. One of the most unique performers of the evening, however, was the amazing Ollie Horn, who took to the stage simply armed with a tub of Haribos. Starting the show with a series of hilarious self-deprecating jokes about how he was essentially forced to immerse himself into the overarching cowboy theme as dictated by the event itself, this then transitioned into Ollie delivering an almost psychological personality test as he asked the audience about their favourite sweets and what they suggest about their nature. Those who know me in the real world will be aware that my all-time favourite confectionery is the Haribo Blue and Pink Sour Bottles (having even owned a set of earrings inspired by these sweets, which you can read about here: https://rhysreviews.com/2022/09/24/kats-jewellery-product-review/), and I do wonder what Ollie would infer from my own favourite sweets. Instead of purely relying on scripted routines and prepared jokes, Ollie was able to effortlessly volley with the audience, showing just how talented a comedian he truly is!
In conclusion, Cowboys Comedy at Just the Big Room at The Caves is a fully immersive and electrifying celebration of up-and-coming cabaret performers as they transport the audience into the heart of the Wild West. It goes without saying that shining a light on emerging artists is fantastic, not only for the artists themselves but also because it injects a sense of unpredictability and excitement into every single person in the crowd! Having seen multiple iterations of this show in Cardiff, this is definitely the grandest version of the show, with every single act leaning heavily into the overarching Wild West atmosphere, including a brilliant lasso routine! I would rate this show 5 out of 5 stars!
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