This bamboozling show is about pigs who become flight attendants. Using this ‘if pigs could fly’ metaphor, it tries to reckon with our modern relationship to air travel and climate catastrophe. If that makes little sense to you on paper, then you’re halfway to understanding how little sense it makes onstage. 

At the beginning, two performers give us a hefty trigger warning, whip off their jackets, strap on pig snouts, crawl to the back of the stage and, speaking in what can only be described as ‘pig baby talk’, hatch their plan to become air stewards. It’s a startling opening, basically packing in every idea and bit of imagery we are going to see again and again over the next 60 minutes. For such a gonzo show, it’s surprisingly stodgy and an extended inflight sequence in the middle feels especially excruciating.

Admittedly, the two performers give it their all, throwing each other around the stage, spitting liquids in the other’s mouth and, at one point, covering themselves in baby oil. They’re fun to spend time with and their conviction largely saves what could otherwise be a total slog. If only their energy could be directed into something with a bit more substance behind the madcap mayhem. 

Pigs Fly Easy Ryan, Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 August, 8.10pm; main picture: Alex Brenner.