Imagination runs wild

It's a rare show that can keep kids enthralled while still stoking the fires of the adult imagination but The Junebug Symphony carries it off with acrobatic aplomb, balancing slapstick circus with dark humour in a seamless mix that's imbued with an enthralling sense of wonder.

The brainchild of James ThierrÈe, grandson of Charlie Chaplin and veteran (even though he's only 27) of Cirque Imaginaire, The Junebug Symphony plays like a fantastical waking dream, opening the trapdoor at the base of the skull, letting a suitcase stuffed with bizarre events and curious creatures come tumbling out.

Acrobat Magnus Jakobsson and contortionist Raphaelle Boitel are outstanding talents, but it is ThierrÈe's show, the action cunningly constructed to showcase a multi-talented performer who can turn his hands (and feet) to everything from trapeze and tumbling to trick cycling and playing the violin on roller-blades. He ought to be a right show-off but much of the show's charm lies in the fact the performers are as caught up in the magic of it all as the audience.

Ghoulish without being gory, surreal yet strangely sweet, The Junebug Symphony packs a firecracker box of tricks into its 90 minutes. But it's more than just a succession of clever turns, it's a dream you never want to end.

Junebug
Cert: 15