A talking unicorn called Pete sits astride a grand piano and bars the gates to heaven: ‘Shinoxcy’ arms itself with a string of bizarre characters, from a girl with teaspoons for hands to a virginal would-be rapist. The action swings from meta-theatre to ludicrous surrealism with varying degrees of success, and you can hardly accuse the company of being un-inventive, yet the performance is chequered with some hits and plenty of near-misses, and is often lacking sharpness and polish. Elements of the writing feel slightly juvenile, and sections drag uncomfortably or just don’t make sense – calling themselves “surreal” plasters over the majority of cracks. It won’t blow you away, but it’s an entertaining, varied way to spend an hour.

Fingers Piano Bar, 6 – 27 Aug (not 8, 15, 22), 2.00pm (3.00pm), free, fpp151.
tw rating 2/5
[jlb]