Cocorico

A petite, doll-like man in a Little Jimmy Osmond/Austrian prince costume who plays the piano beautifully and tries to avoid the ministrations of his larger and more buffoon-like partner … this French mime duo is not comprised of silent white-faced stair climbers with a habit of getting trapped in boxes.

From the moment Patrice Thibaud produces bendy multi-instrumentalist Phillipe Leygnac from a suitcase, the pair embarks on a series of sketches using music, physical comedy, hand puppetry and clowning. Of a cat-and-mouse, comic-and-foil structure or music-led gags or action scenes, each is brought to vivid life using movable light boxes, a piano, vocal noises and minimal props.

By the time Thibaud is portraying both a sleep-deprived tiger, and himself while trapped inside the tiger along with a whole menagerie of animals, you can practically smell the big cat’s stomach acid.

There are no deep hidden meanings in this hour and a quarter of laughs, just the simple joy of watching two men paint absurd pictures in your imagination.

New Town Theatre, 0844 477 1000, until 30 Aug, 9.30pm, £11–£12 (£9–£10).