In the stand-up set that follows her main show, Elf Lyons tells of the confusion of an Australian stag do that attended Horses on the basis of a horny mis-hearing of its name.
Even having carefully scrutinised the publicity material, it’s still something of a journey into the unknown.
Lyons has a reputation for switching genres or, as she references her agent saying at one point, wilfully creating shows that make it difficult to get her booked for TV gigs – and these gee gees are probably not going to change that.
The main show is a kaleidoscope of monologues, mimes, recordings, and audience-dependent re-enactments of historic events, all with an equine bent. It is beautifully bewildering and ranges from outrageously funny to darkly poignant, particularly the apparently autobiographical segments.
In the more clearly comic parts she is reminiscent of early Eddie Izzard: drawing on myths and legends to creature absurdist narratives where Medusa takes Pegasus to get some new shoes for school, or cajoling the audience into restaging the taking of Troy. Her spirit of invention is wild and beguiling.
She plays confidently with theatre tropes, and encourages us to play more over all; a worthy ambition, even if tonight’s Norwich audience pulled a little shy at the fences at the end.
- Elf Lyons: Horses is touring nationally, including Cambridge Junction on 30 May 2025.
