REVIEW: And Then the Rodeo Burned Down, Xhloe and Natasha, EdFringe 2025 ★★★★★

A metatheatrical romp that doesn’t miss a trick, And Then the Rodeo Burned Down returns to the Edinburgh Fringe three years after winning NYC clown duo Xhloe and Natasha their first of three consecutive Scotsman Fringe First Awards. Deconstructing the American Dream, the entertainment industry, and the conventions of the play itself, Xhloe and Natasha line dance, shit-shovel, and cartwheel their way to another triumph of Fringe theatre.

Xhloe and Natasha are known for their mastery of clowning and physical theatre, their powerful absurdist writing, and their incisive commentary on US socio-political issues, all of which were displayed in abundance in this performance. We follow Dale, a rodeo clown with dreams of working his way up the ladder one day, and his mischievous shadow Dilly-Dally, as Dale tries to learn how to be a cowboy, and Dilly-Dally tries to learn – well, everything, really. But then the play breaks down, as the actors realise that they can’t afford the ending of the story, or even know how to end it. Because why would anyone want to burn the rodeo down? It’s the best place in the world. 

The script operates on a variety of levels, and succeeds at communicating its message on each of them. A searing commentary on financially-restricted creation, the commodification of performers and ideas, and the fears of hard work and passion going unrewarded, this piece is truly fascinating to watch in the context of Xhloe and Natasha’s meteoric rise to Fringe success in the years since they debuted it, as they clown their way through a gruelling month-long schedule of three physically and emotionally taxing productions, performing two each day. It also comments on the American Dream, idealised Western masculinity, the failure of meritocracy, and the pressure to succeed within a system designed to make you fail. Finally, it’s really damn entertaining.

Dripping with charisma (and sweat – they are not afraid to clown wearing layers in a heatwave for their art!), Xhloe and Natasha are the definition of watchable. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they speak, move, and breathe so perfectly in sync that at times you could be forgiven for assuming that they are some kind of hive mind split across two bodies. Their physicality is, of course, outstanding, with masterful clowning sections interspersed throughout the piece both moving the plot along and endearing the characters to the audience. Both performers provide such deeply vulnerable performances, and yet flit from cowboy to clown to shadow to actor with ease. I have never experienced an audience so entirely on side with performers, and the impact of this production was not lost on a single person in the house.

The use of minimal props and technical effects is also impeccable, allowing Rice and Roland’s magnetic and commanding storytelling and clowning abilities to take centre stage, bolstered by Angelo Sagnelli’s skillful lighting design. Their use of cigarettes and Chekov’s lighter in particular is phenomenal, and they wring every last drop of meaning from these symbols.

I would urge you to get tickets to this production (and to both of Xhloe and Natasha’s other shows), but chance would be a fine thing – they’re all sold out throughout their run. However, the duo are firmly on the up, and I would be very much surprised if they didn’t have anything else lined up on the horizon – if you see them playing anywhere near you, don’t wait around, just book your ticket!

Impossibly intelligent, endlessly engaging, and a masterclass in artistry, Xhloe and Natasha’s And Then the Rodeo Burned Down is a metatheatrical marvel.

Recommended Drink: Southern Comfort, to get you in the cowboy (or rodeo clown) mood.

You can catch And Then The Rodeo Burned Down at Upper at theSpace @ Niddry Street from 1st to 22nd August at various times (50mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.