With his booming German accent, steampunk goggles and flame-orange science coat, Doktor Kaboom is half mad scientist, half post-apocalyptic engineer. You could imagine him burrowing away in an underground bunker at the end of the world, building crazed machines out of junk. 

For those who have seen his previous Fringe shows (based around a ‘wheel of science’) it doesn’t feel like there is a whole lot of new material here. But that’s no matter to those new to Kaboom. Performer David Epley is a natural entertainer as well as educator, clown and inspirer to young and curious minds. He balances quickfire rapport with the audience (constantly engaging us with questions to keep little brains on their toes), alongside silliness and short, sharp explanations of the science behind each of his stage experiments.

There is no dumbing down of subject matter here. One of his first demonstrations centres around rocket science, a concept Kaboom explains is ‘as easy as letting go of a balloon’. Both kids and grown-ups will come away having learned something, but what is particularly heartening is the way he builds confidence in each of the kids he brings onstage. Never mind rocket science; that’s its own kind of magic. 

Doktor Kaboom: Man Of Science!, Pleasance Courtyard, until 26 August, 1.30pm; main picture: Damian Robertson.