If anybody says there are limits to what the human body can do, they will have changed their minds after seeing the acrobatics performed by Humans 2.0 at the Theatre Royal this week.

Opening performance Tuesday 20th May at 7.30: a troupe of ten acrobats from Australia leapt, gyrated and threw themselves around for an hour and 20 minutes, non-stop.

A low instrumental hum precedes the curtains opening, fuelling our sense of anticipation. As it changes in tone, the curtains open to reveal bodies - 10 of them - whirling in unison on the floor, arms extended as they turn, tumble and stretch. All in black t.shirts and tight shorts. Music with a beat continues throughout the performances and the movements.

They move in harmony. Towers of bodies grow and collapse, leap and are caught, as physical limits are pushed to their extreme. A lift and a pull, a turn and a twist, and she’s wound around his neck; others are swopping and stepping and walking onto each others shoulders. They fall off and are caught in the arms of their faithful men, and then march in a row.

A piece of the action: Humans 2.0 Circa.

placeholder image — A piece of the action: Humans 2.0 Circa.

A woman takes two on her shoulders - three high. Girls are thrown across the stage into the arms of others. Hands are on feet. Feet balance on hands. Bodies connect and separate.

A man does inventive and safety defying twists and somersaults through two looped ropes hanging down. A girl winds herself around a long white loop.

There’s a butt-shaking scene where they all shimmy with their bottoms. Abit of a joke. They smile; they laugh. They like each other and they’re enjoying what they’re doing while making their bodies move and leap and rotate in unbelievable ways. They’re fit. They’re dedicated and for a week they’re ours.

See them in this year’s once-off performance that will leave you stunned. Marvelling at the ways the human body can move, while knowing that this could never happen without months of dedicated rehearsals, possible falls, feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

Discipline, imagination, energy and force make up the other worldly movements of this troupe.

They’ve come from Australia to show us their genius, taking part in the show created by visionary director Yaron Lifschitz. Humans 2.0 explores the limits of human strength and agility, presenting a symphony of acrobatics that is both intimate and primal.

It’s high energy physical theatre. See it if you still can.

It’s on for the rest of the week, till Saturday 24th May.Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd 7.30pm; Saturday 24th 2.30pm & 7.30pm