Cirque Eloize: iD, Marlowe Theatre, Wednesday, October 12 to Saturday, October 15.

by Justine Graham

Set against a futuristic urban metropolis, Cirque Eloize's iD combines dance, acrobatics and theatre seamlessly, creating a fast paced and edgy show that captivates its audience from the start.

The show does not tell a story, but instead offers a glimpse of lives in a busy city setting. The scene is set through the use of clever projections that allow the action to move from one place to another, the transitions themselves often being used as part of the numbers.

And then there are the performers. Sixteen athletes and dancers wow the audience with boundless energy and talent to match. There's the break dancing pole act, where the dancer allows himself to slip face first, before stopping himself just as his nose touches the ground, the contortionist that hypnotises with her spider-like moves, and the mountain biker that hops from platform to platform and even does some skipping.

Whether the juggling, the balancing on chairs, the aerial hoop, the roller skating or the wheel, each number is surrounded by dance and performed to pumping music played at high volume, the perfect accompaniment.

The set is an ever-moving wall of platforms, partitions and doors, and is integral to the truly amazing trampowall finale. This jaw-dropping showstopper could have been twice as long and still would have left me wanting more. It prompted my daughter to turn to me and ask: "Is this happening in real life or is it a dream?", and it prompted the audience to stand and cheer in delight.

iD is definitely a show not to be missed.