Chinese State Circus

As the cabaret and circus circuits come closer together – the Frayed Knot duo of Amelie Soleil and Ed Muir having introduced burlesque crowds to another kind of pole dancing- and "Chinese Silks" enter the repetoire of every Scottish aerialist, Despite the flimsy narrative – Mulan (as in Disney) is retold by Monkey (as in Chinese classic or kitsch TV import) – this is really a series of spectacular show-pieces, ranging from synchronised unicyclists to hardcore Kung Fu action.

Metal is broken over skulls, massive wooden structures are balanced on foreheads, impossible leaps are executed: the techniques and skills on show shame British performers, and, had they only dropped the rather twee interludes, the show would have been a relentless cavalcade of astonishment. As it is, the acts power the performance along.

The two teams within the circus are the traditional acts and the Shaolin monks. Anyone familiar with martial arts will know the monks: tough as Glasgow street fighters, with incredible discipline and as happy performing acrobatic routines as balancing on sharp spears. The circus team hits back, bouncing across the stage, clambering up poles in formation, trick shooting arrows and bringing moments of elegance. Forget the proto-feminist story: the real battle is between these two troops.

The Chinese Silk act certainly demonstrated a technique that is completely underexploited in the UK. A romantic pas des trois transported the grace of ballet into mid-air, telling a melancholic tale of competing lovers and suggesting that a more imaginative script could use the silks for an extended show.

Barely passing as a piece of theatre, this is, nevertheless, a stunning show: a sourcebook for performers and all-ages entertainment. Of course, trying this at home did lead to a quick visit to the A and E department.