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Comedy preview: Alex Horne: Birdwatching, on tour

Where Ken Dodd had the tickling stick, Alex Horne has PowerPoint. Notorious for reducing any form of argument to a string of bullet points and naff animations, in Horne's hands, PowerPoint becomes an efficient comedy tool. Rather than employing it to simplify complex points the way Bill Gates intended, Horne uses the software to add inappropriate layers of gravitas and over-elaboration to mundane subjects. It's a ploy that fits well with his slightly stiff, fish-out-of-water stage persona. This latest show tracks his progress over the course of a year as he attempts to out-birdwatch his middle-aged father. It's a low-key take on the recently popular genre of stand-up quests (as is often the case, there's soon to be a tie-in book), and the gentle premise offers a platform for some sharp gags and surprisingly insightful philosophising.

Cawley Hall, Leominster, Sat; Theatre Royal: Ustinov, Bath, Sun; Strode Theatre, Street, Mon