How many Fringe shows begin with a shot of mezcal? Not enough, frankly. But so the immersive experience of Comala, Comala begins, a show deeply rooted in Mexican storytelling traditions. Entirely performed by musicians doubling as actors, the company interpret Juan Rulfo’s famous book Pedro Paramó (a favourite of Gabriel García Márquez). 

The show is bookended by English sections which help distinguish our protagonist Juan’s journey to and from the ghostly town of Comala, where he meets a series of spectral characters from the past while on the hunt for his long-lost father. While the Spanish sections come with handy surtitles, these occasionally fell out of sync in this particular performance and made some sections of an already knotty narrative hard to follow. Nevertheless, the show’s original folk compositions are charming and the transportative stage design makes us feel like we’re in a rustic cantina in rural Mexico.

Vocal performances are also strong and the interplay between the characters, particularly the older members of the cast, are soul-filled. There’s no doubt that being familiar with the plotline of Pedro Paramó before entering will increase your enjoyment of this hour but those looking for a hit of Latin American culture will be well served.

Comala, Comala, Zoo Southside, until 25 August, 5.15pm.