Bepo & Co.'s core conceit is that its band of six circus performers have lived through the past century, with all its wars and massacres and triumphs, without ageing a day. The characters have the energy and enthusiasm of youth combined with the experience and skill of age, which enables them to share their extraordinary story with their audience.Such a perfect combination is, of course, impossible in our sadly limited world, but UnWish Theatre manage to embody some of its magic by being so evidently young, yet displaying an unwavering professionalism and competence that belies their years. This is most clear in Tom Vickers' brave and eloquent script. I'm used to subconsciously making excuses for student writers, but Vickers' creation is never awkward or strained, instead demonstrating a well-developed grasp of spectacle and storytelling. One risky moment of plotting towards the end, which I shan't spoil, could only be undertaken by a writer entirely confident in his own creation.The performers' evocation of a circus-eye perspective on the past one hundred and twenty (ish) years is unashamedly theatrical. Ringmaster outfits, white face-paint and a touch of red on the nose adorn the tricksters, acrobats and showman who spin the tale. Props are nothing more than a collection of suitcases, some excellently-used (and delicious) bananas and a few pieces of circus paraphernalia, but the endlessly energetic circusfolk create a whole world by springing and jumping round, over and through their meagre possessions.Comedy (Rosie Brear), and to a marginally lesser extent her sister Tragedy (Meg Roberts), stand out as the most charming performers, cultivating an endearing air of innocence which is occasionally rocked to great effect. But the cast's showmanship is omnipresent as the story speeds through decades then slows to linger on a moment, embracing a broad spectrum of human experience.Ambition, skill and energy come together in this production with admirable precision – it's the first fringe show I'm considering seeing a second time.
