Circolombia

The achievements of circus and acrobatic shows can often be judged not on how high performers can jump or how fast they can spin in the rafters, but by the calibre of the slower, less showy moments. The breathless stunts create the spectacle; the catching of breath makes the show.

Any performance that is based on the wonders of human physicality will have those jaw-dropping moments – the ones that make running off and joining the circus appear a great career option.

Circolombia, a troupe that grew up on the tough streets of West Colombia, is no different. High points from their show of the same name include two members simultaneously back-flipping two storeys high, using nothing but fellow performers' hands as trampolines. At another point, a pixie-like young lady dangles inside a spinning wheel perched upon a human colossus’s head.

However, it is in the valleys between these peaks that the show fizzles out. An hour long performance has been crafted around 15 minutes of high octane feats. The filler consists of some admittedly impressive dancing to pounding Colombian hip-hop but there are other sequences that just fall flat. For example, a tightrope is walked on – whilst it lies limp on the ground. Other moments are lost in translation. At one point, a man-mountain sings in Spanish as he rolls about the stage in a barrel, resembling something like a snail.

The result is a show in which gasps of boredom sadly outnumber those of awe.