This Gallic puppet show is charming from start to finish. A demonstration of object-theatre, the tale focuses on love, family and the patterns of the seasons. The stories of various couples – represented by, amongst others, a lace handkerchief, a pen knife, a miniature beer mug and a china deer – are beautifully told by Julien Mellano and Charlotte Blin. Both possess wonderfully expressive faces, and convey the ’emotions’ of inanimate objects with a tilt of the eyebrows and a lustful glance, with virtually no speech throughout. Music plays a central role, both setting and dictating scenes, and basic effects (such as glowing disco teeth) become magical in the darkened studio. A show length of half-an-hour is the only complaint – I could have watched all night.

Instituit Francais d’Ecosse, 4-24 Aug, 5.25pm.
tw rating 5/5 | [Kirsten Waller]