Alex Horne's solo shows have been memorable for his use of visual effects and technical wizardry, but his most unusual accessory so far is a five-piece jazz band. The Horne Section, a joyful, high-octane collision of stand-up, musical improvisation and variety, was a hit at the Edinburgh fringe last year and has now taken up a fortnightly London residence.
It's an anarchic, upbeat show where the performers are clearly enjoying themselves enormously and invite the audience to share in their enthusiasm. Horne's band of accomplished session musicians prove to be assured straight men. The bill changes with each show, but you can expect to see Horne's regular collaborators Mark Watson and Tim Key offering something a little different from their usual sets, as well as acts such as Bruce Airhead, who climbs inside a balloon. he sight of three men reinterpreting Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" routine as a morris dance was worth the ticket on its own. This is certainly one of the most original and entertaining comedy cabarets you'll see this year.
