Review: Unicorn Party

Nick Field can talk to unicorns. In this surreal celebration that devolves into dystopian satire, he even summons a few. With unicorn dildos, handfuls of confetti and a candyfloss maker, Field traces the history of our obsession with unicorns, examining why they are so ubiquitous today. He is a glitzy, welcoming host, but the piece hasn’t yet found its feet. At this stage it’s definitely more of a gathering than a party.

Field lays out a strong thesis tying unicorns to power, tracing their history and popularity in queer culture, and exploring how they have been overly-popularised by big brands keen to commercialise nostalgia. He leads a tongue-in-cheek lecture that starts to sour, as ideas of purity begin to reign and pleasure turns to paranoia.

The show is most alive when interactive and joyful. There is power in celebration, in the party we were promised. Through it all, he makes a brilliant mess on stage – glitter, unicorn cum, hundreds and thousands. But the darker parts aren’t yet as full of energy or impact. There’s a lot of empty space around the slapdash skits, and little to hold them together. 

Field’s lines are wobbly, the structure feels frail and the show as a whole hasn’t yet found its form. It’s not unlike watching a glitch in a unicorn gif. But the core idea is strong.