Elf Lyons on the comedy horror show inspired by her love of Stephen King

Elf Lyons has built a reputation as an excitingly mercurial performer.

From the clownish genius of Swan (performing Swan Lake in an hour, in faux-French, while dressed in a parrot costume), Lyons moved on to the economic theory, Brexit-peppered Chiffchaff – replete with Liza Minnelli showstopping numbers.

In Love Songs to Guinea Pigs Lyons she brought to life the personal struggle of coming back after a long and incapacitating illness, before her debut play Gorgon: A Horror Story the following year she described as “Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Medusa,” remarking “you’ll scream or be sick. That’s the aim”.

Elf Lyons, Raven – photo: Karla Gowlett

Lyons is now on tour with her new show, Raven, a horrifying Stephen King-inspired comedy spectacle intended to make audiences both laugh, and shiver.

Ahead of her performance at Tobacco Factory Theatres on October 1, she shared some insights with Bristol24/7:

Can you describe the nature of Raven, and the inspiration you have derived from Stephen King?

“Stephen King is one of the most prolific and hard working writers in the world. It is hard to begin to digest the immense work ethic he has and his immense success. I adore the man. So much.

“It was natural that I was going to make a show inspired by him, but I needed to wait for the right moment. Turning 30 seemed to be that turning point, because I finally felt like an adult able to deal with the material I wanted to deal with properly.”

In your own work, what can be unlocked in the relationship between horror and comedy?

“Horror and comedy are siblings. They are one of the few artistic genres that has a fully immersive and kinaesthetic power over the body. They are cathartic. They both control your heartbeat.

“As a comic, especially with alternative material, you walk along a trapeze line, which is the audience’s attention and heart strings. You must have complete balance and dexterity. If you slip off, depending on the side, you can get a completely different reaction to the one you set out to receive. Bad horror is funny. Bad comedy is terrifying.”

Photo: Karla Gowlett

In terms of your process, every one of your shows is characterised by rich detail, often a clash of styles, and a cast-iron concept. How do your initial ideas evolve into the fully realised visions that you produce?

“I start from my dream show – what I imagine I would do if I had an unlimited budget and was allowed to run free at the National Theatre. Then, I strip it back. Also, I make a playlist for each show and I create a Pinterest board. I hire a rehearsal room and dance to that music, and then the dream of the show starts to come alive.

“It sounds very holistic, and in many ways it is; that and sweaty. It is about quantity not quality – you generate so much material for your show and then you cut away until only the lean muscle remains.”

Are you always motivated to turn your hand to the new and untested?

“Yes – it is all about pushing yourself and your own creative abilities. What excites me most is the fact I can never guarantee what is going to happen.”

Photo: Karla Gowlett

Elf Lyons: Raven (age recommendation 15+) presented by Chuckle Busters is at Tobacco Factory Theatres on October 1. For more information and tickets, visit www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.

Main photo: Karla Gowlett

Read more: Interview: Elf Lyons

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