Alex Horne: Odds

It's not often that a standup show includes a basic introduction to quantum mechanics, but Alex Horne is no ordinary comedian.

Horne specialises in the kind of Herculean routine that demands more than just some tightly written material and a sense of comic timing. Previous shows have concerned a year-long birdwatching contest and introducing a new word into the English language – think Dave Gorman with a doctorate.

Ostensibly this year's marathon offering is about odds and gambling, in particular a bet placed at William Hill in 2008 that non-golfer Horne could get a hole in one by his 32nd birthday. This is used as a jumping-off point for a range of material about growing up, fatherhood, science and finding our place in the world. It's a clever and perfectly paced routine which pulls off the rare trick of being both hilarious and interesting.

Of course, as you would expect from one of the creators of unhinged BBC4 quiz We Need Answers, there's plenty of fun and games along the way. The audience are fully involved from the off, invited to gamble on Horne's playful updates of notable bets from history.

The obligatory Power Point presentation is well done, with plenty of amusing sketches, videos and animations to illustrate every part of the show. But it's the sheer heart shown by Horne that ensures he is onto a winner here, with the audience willing him to succeed in his odd task.

So, did he get a hole in one? Take a gamble – buy a ticket and find out.