LEO

Circle of Eleven's award-winning, one-man physical theatre show, LEO, begins with the simple premise of a man stuck in a box. But in this box gravity is doing strange things. The stage is split in half, one side showing performer Julian Schulz, the other a live projection of Schulz, turned 90 degrees so the floor in Schulz's box is the wall in the projection, creating the illusion that LEO is defying gravity.

It's impressive trickery from the production team and must require an enormous amount of stamina and precision from Schulz, although he barely shows it. He's joyful, spending the majority of the hour dancing on the walls before using chalk to conjure a living room, complete with pets which, via animation, come to life. But in LEO's final scenes the mood shifts from joy to desperation; Schulz frenetically climbs walls as gravity comes unstuck, trying escape in a final burst of physicality.

This audience is vocally appreciative, enthusiastically applauding Schulz's acrobatics. And rightly so; he's a compelling physical performer, graceful and expressive, irresistibly endearing and able to wordlessly bring the character to life. There's magic in LEO, and it doesn't come only from illusion; this loveable – and lovingly rendered – character makes for moving and joyous theatre.