Occasionally you will see a TV star wandering the Festival crowds during August in Edinburgh, but at
Even if you’re not a fan of Japanese TV, you will still be caught in fits of laughter with this charming and hilarious newcomer.
Ollie Horn is just like any of us, he has had doubts about his future after finishing university, and he has found himself searching for his own purpose in life – but unlike most of us, Ollie Horn’s search for purpose lead him to a one-way ticket to Japan. His show takes you through his spontaneous and ill-prepared journey from Bristol to Japan and back again.
Throughout the hour he explains the various events that led him to Japan including his family, his then-girlfriend and, of course, worries about being sucked into a money-grabbing corporate black hole of a career. However, his recollections of life in Japan and his journey to becoming a Japanese’s TV star are undoubtedly the best parts of the hour. From awkward encounters with locals, and difficulties mastering the language, to always feeling just a little bit out of place, Horn’s experience in Japan is filled with belly-laughter-inducing stories and mishaps. The accompanying clips of his career on Japanese television are unbelievably strange (although perhaps not for those who regularly watch Japanese entertainment) and help to really captivate the audience.
The sign of a good storyteller is one that can make the audience feel like they are part of the story and Ollie is a natural, working the audience like a professional with many more years of experience under their belt. He peppered observations of Japanese culture and life into his stories, whilst squeezing in relatable jokes about British life and culture. His sometimes self-deprecating and nervous enthusiasm made him both endearing and infectious and all of this allowed the audience to become putty in his hands. He set up the audience for jokes like he was stacking Lego, and whilst not all of these jokes landed, he handled the missed laughs with grace and quick wit.
This newcomer has serious potential, and whilst Ollie Horn may still be finding his stride in his debut, the show is an easy, enjoyable hour of storytelling that left me wanting to see more of Ollie both on stage and on Japanese television.
