A CITY comic ventriloquist cannot wait to return for his first Midlands show since the age of 17.

Worcester’s Lachlan Werner enjoyed a sold-out, critically-acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year where the shows received four-star reviews from national newspapers.

This was followed by another sell-out at London’s Soho Theatre so he’s now signed with a leading comedy agent and is taking Voices of Evil on tour, including a date in Los Angeles and two shows in Birmingham at the end of this month.

Lachlan, who lived in Barbourne and went to Bishop Perowne College, said: “Bringing my show back home to the West Midlands is maybe the most exciting part of touring it.

“I haven’t done a show in the Midlands since I was 17 but the Midlands is still, to me, the funniest place in the UK and my comedy owes a lot to Worcester.”

The LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2022 runner-up and self-proclaimed ‘poof prince of puppets’ has devised a ‘horrifying and hilarious’ debut show.

Voices Of Evil is a cartoonish hour where the audience meets Brew, a small squishy, ego-centric witch puppet, and her friend Lachy.

Brew hatches a plan to sacrifice Lachy to help with his self-esteem.

But when Brew’s gimmicks release a sinister entity with a lust for destruction the innocent Lachy will never be the same.

Excited to be hitting the road for their first tour, Lachlan continued: “The response to the show this last year has been ridiculous.

“I don’t think I knew how many people would make so much noise for a queer horror puppet show.

“Director Laurie Luxe and I are so proud of it and I can’t wait to bring the show to so many new places.”

In one of comedy’s freshest feats, Lachlan juggles innovative voice tricks, clowning and meta-ventriloquism to play three characters simultaneously, creating something akin to what is described as a demon love-child of The Muppets and The Exorcist.

Lachlan, 24, is a graduate of Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France and a member of clown company Pointy Finger.

He was nominated for the BBC New Comedy Award, Chortle Best Variety Award, ISH Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award and VAULT Comedy Breakthrough Award.

Lachlan has been performing as a ventriloquist since the age of 10.

At the Edinburgh Fringe the show was among the best reviewed comedy acts as compiled by British Comedy Guide.

It was named Reviews Hub best show at Brighton Fringe and nominated for an Off West End Award and Soho Playhouse New York Award.

The tour started at Newcastle Puppet Festival in April and continues at The Elysian Theatre, Los Angeles, on Friday, June 7.

Old Joint Stock, Birmingham, is the venue on June 29 and 30.

Other dates are Komedia, Brighton, on June 19, The Stand, Glasgow, on June 22, The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol, on June 27, Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, on July 3 and Cultplex, Manchester, on July 11.