Zoe Lyons, a cut above the rest

By Sam Steen

Zoe Lyons is an award winning British stand-up comedian. She recently finished a run at the Edinburgh festival and has appeared on many well-known comedy shows on television including Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

Despite doing many shows all over the world this is Zoe’s first time in the Grand Duchy and so far it’s been a positive experience, “It is my first time in Luxembourg”, she said, “I’ve been around (the city) twice already. First time here, it’s lovely, it’s fantastic! I didn’t really know how the audience would be when I got here or what to expect but it’s a little bit like a UN convention, there’s one of everything in the room so it’s alright!"

Most of the shows outside of the UK that she has done in the past have been in English-speaking countries but she says that this is starting to change.

“Over the last moth I’ve done quite a few, I’ve been to Denmark which was interesting. In Denmark when you finish your show they clap you off sort of as one. It feels like you’re being slow, hand-clapped off stage.

Expensive soup

Her Scandinavian adventures didn’t end there though as she continues, “And Norway, they were a delight, as long as you don’t want to eat anything or drink anything while you’re there. I spent 16 pounds on a soup in Norway, I mean it was a lovely soup but I took the bowl and the spoon and everything with me, I thought I’m having all of that for 16 quid.”

The Edinburgh festival continues to grow this year with thousands of shows taking place across the city. Zoe admits that it’s hard work trying to get people in to see the show every day but that it was a good run over all.

“The show this year was Zoe Lyons: Mustard Cutter. It was kind of based on the idea of trying to make yourself better, but it was very very loosely themed. Usually you just get a title so you have something to put on the poster and you work backwards from there.”

Certain elements of that show are incorporated into her set here in Luxembourg but for those who have never seen her before she offers this description of her style:

“I’m quite physical on stage, which is kind of unusual, I don’t know many other female acts who are quite as physical as I am on stage and when I started I was too physical, I used to exhaust myself! I used to have a little sit down after five minutes! So I would describe my stand-up as slightly cartoony, it certainly isn’t life-changing but, hopefully, it will make you think about one or two things."

As for the future, Zoe has a busy schedule. “Christmas gigs, that can be a fun time of year for a stand-up comedian. And I’ll be doing a little tour at the beginning of next year so I’m planning that at the moment.”, but hopefully it won’t be too long before she makes a return to Luxembourg.

Zoe Lyons performs at Konrad Café, November 20, from 8.30pm

For more information on comedy in Luxembourg go to comedy.lu

Listen to the full interview below

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Sam Steen on ARA City Radio

You can catch Sam in his "Freshly Squeezed Breakfast Show" on ARA City Radio every weekday morning from 6-9:30am. For more info visit the website: www.aracityradio.com

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