Rapper Baba Brinkman and neuroscientist Dr Heather Berlin are a couple in real life (a fact Brinkman endearingly reminds the audience of throughout) and their chemistry on stage is fantastic. ‘Off The Top’ is essentially a humorous lecture and it achieves exactly what it sets out to, entertaining and informing simultaneously. Though asking an audience member to come onstage and rap 15 minutes into a show is risky, it works in this environment, where the goal is to see how the brain works during improvisation. The hour-long performance is broken up well by two guest spots, the second, from SYTYF 2014 winner Aidan Strangeman, being a real highlight. You’ll learn a lot here, with plenty of laughs along the way.

Canon’s Gait, until 30 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Ben Shannon]