Elf Lyons: Horses - Norwich Theatre Stage Two (24.05.2025)

In a renegade move, Elf Lyons dispenses with tradition where a warm-up set usually precedes the headline act, as she opens the show by introducing a horse onto the stage.

For the benefit of booking agents, and with apologies to Lyons, it's not a real horse. Rather, it's a character of her childhood imagination brought to life who in turn adopts other equine characters in order to guide us through this deceptively complex yet hilarious, nostalgic, and at times decidedly dark piece.

Whilst predominantly using physical theatre and a storytelling format, Horses never settles into one particular trope, and at various points Lyons uses mime, audio recordings of family delivered as monologues, comedy sketches, and a bit of historical reenactment with the help of the audience. And it's all the more engaging for it, as you're left wondering what's coming next, and often eager for more.

Lyons pulls on the reins throughout with an adorably aggressive 'you-will-like-me' energy. Leaning into her self-confessed non funny bits, she frequently makes reference to less than flattering remarks made by reviewers in order to elevate her routines, making you wonder whether garnering unfavourable reviews was all part of the plan. Whatever her intentions, it's brilliantly inventive stuff that demonstrates Lyons' incredible versatility as a comic performer.

After the energetic whimsy of Horses, Lyons then offers a kind of warm-down set, as she presents a more traditional 20 minute stand-up routine. This is just as skilled and hilarious, as Lyons riffs on her current mental state, her recent tour of Australia, and her sweet relationship with her sister.

While Lyons' agent might be tearing her hair out over her inability to produce a show which earns her a TV gig, it's to the benefit of us in the audience that she's playing her rich material in such an intimate space. Hopefully this wonderful performer will continue to get the attention that her talent deserves.

Horses continues its gallivant across the UK until the 8 June.