Knight, Knight review: Madeleine Rowe has made one of the best clown shows ever

Edinburgh Fringe

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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️

by Zoe Paskett

I first saw Madeleine Rowe at the Fringe last year as part of a mixed bill of clowns, doing a Frankenstein character singing about having to kill their dad to the tune of Shallow from A Star is Born. It was love at first sight, and I set out on a mission to find them. A quest, if you will.

Their first full Fringe run is Knight Knight, a hero’s story of a man and his horse, of forbidden love, betrayal and desperately working up the courage to consummate marriage to a human woman. Trotting in on Hermes the horse, our hero’s journey begins with a magical sword and a prophecy. 

What follows over the next hour is one of my favourite clown shows ever. I’ve been telling everyone to go – I want to go again! (I think I might have even doubled over and slapped my thigh at one point, embarrassingly.) Madeleine’s swagger and completely unique and indescribable voice combine to make something so silly, so endearing that the audience are begging to be involved.

They communicate so much with a flicker of their eyes and a slight inclination of the head and there’s no shortage of acting talent (shock reveal of their real life self at the end!), displaying excellent physical comedy, vulnerability and bravado all at once.

Never once in my life have I felt any sort of twinge in the realm of nationalist pride. But I want to join this brotherhood of men (of the round table). I pledge my life to serve this nation (Camelot). Nothing but respect for my King.

Knight, Knight is at Underbelly George Square (Wee Coo) at 20:50. Tickets here