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Lil Wenker: Bangtail

 
Isabella Thompson Review by Isabella Thompson 4 Published: 3 Aug 2025 Pleasance Courtyard Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-23 Aug 2025

He’s the baddest man in Texas. With spoons for spurs, armed with handguns and a dangerously gravelly voice, Lil Wenker slingshots us straight into the dusty heart of the Wild West, where we land squarely in clown chaos.

A rootin’-tootin’ romp where the fun doesn’t stop.

From the outset, you are immersed. Directed by Bangtail himself, the audience creates the ambience of the desert and infamous saloon bar, complete with bar fights and the clinking of tumblers — we are complicit, and delightedly so. Wenker’s finely tuned instincts guide the show’s rhythm, sparking laughter with the flick of her wrist. She repeats just enough, pushes just far enough, and leaves space for the unexpected to bloom. You guffaw with laughter when you least expect it and are delighted at every turn. Wenker's world is playful and rich in spontaneous invention.

All the hallmarks of good clowning are here: relentless play, audience complicity, emotional agility, and fearless commitment. Wenker is finely tuned to the energy in the room and rides the waves of audience attention with ease. There are occasional moments when the narrative thread frays slightly or a repeated gag doesn’t quite land on its second outing, but the momentum never stays down for long.

A recurring character throughout is Mr Nemesis — a hapless, hilariously innocent audience member who unwittingly becomes the show’s antagonist. Their relationship is a goldmine for absurdity and callbacks, culminating in a surprisingly tender moment of reconciliation that exposes Bangtail’s tender vulnerability, one of the show’s standout highlights.

Beneath the cowboy kitsch and clowning chaos lies something quietly profound — a tale of self-discovery. Bangtail is bold, silly, and wonderfully off-kilter: a rootin’-tootin’ romp where the fun doesn’t stop... even when you’re knee-deep in metaphorical horse sh*t.

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The Blurb:

Following the best ride of his life – selling out Edinburgh Fringe 2024, a Soho Theatre run, a US tour and winning an award in Australia (!) – Bangtail is back for a limited run at Pleasance. Bigger. Badder. Cowboy-er. 'Sheer, brilliant, well executed madness ... blows the roof off the venue with laughter level ten' ***** (ThreeWeeks). 'A masterclass in clowning that made the crowd roar with laughter... Truly is excellent' ***** (VoiceMag.uk). 'Side-splittingly funny' **** (Age). 'A hysterical blend of storytelling and clowning' **** (BroadwayWorld.com). 'Farcical and whip-smart' **** (Fest).