This show is not small; instead, it is a large, magical exploration. The premise sees the story jumping between two points in James’s life, from his young childhood years to being a professor talking about water bears. Gabriel Wishart’s script perfectly blends these moments together and remarkably captures a sense of childhood imagination and wonder yet has no qualms about demonstrating the harsh reality. The mesmerising display of lighting, projections and choreography is lively and hypnotic, and meanwhile the cast shines, bringing gusto into very demanding stage direction, with lead Ben Boulton Jones as James giving a whimsical but also passionate performance. A bright, shiny ball of a show that captures your heart.

Pleasance Courtyard, until 16 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Andrew Melrose]