Sarah Keyworth’s show Dark Horse is an absolute gem.
In her deftly constructed debut the Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer nominee deals with her own complicated childhood, contemporary gender politics and displays a gift for a memorable gag that suggests an extremely bright future.
The engagingly gawky Nottingham comic initially recalls her early struggles with sexual identity. She was gay and bullied at school for being a tomboy. “Man Beast” was one of the less hurtful epithets. At university she tried heterosexuality but sex with men, she jokes, was like a Bushtucker Trial. It is when she describes her experiences after graduating, however, that the monologue moves up a gear.
Her style is powerful, yet never hectoring, brilliantly drawing together thoughtful themes and delivering belly laughs. Best of all Keyworth has a Victoria Wood-ish way with a well-turned phrase. She is no fan, she confesses, of unisex toilets: “I’ll try them once a year. Like brussel sprouts.”
Until February 2 (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
