Hong Kong’s Theatre de la Feuille are masters in the art of acrobatic clowning. Their slapstick is so graceful that they manage to make a bash on the nose look like a piece of balletic punctuation. Combining the classic solemnity of traditional physical storytelling, with the playfulness of painted black animal noses, they set about recounting through movement a series of Hong Kong folk tales featuring swordsmiths, warriors, monks and thieves. 

Through a combination of tight choreography and attention to detail, the micro-events of the narrative are quite easy to follow, such as fights with thieves, a dog begging for a chunk of stolen apple, a man unleashing a sword. The troupe all have fantastic comic timing and an elegant way of moving together as an ensemble. Added to which an atmospheric palette of live percussion and music helps to create a beautiful shifting sense of place. In one particularly vivid moment a warrior travels across a lake, pausing to rest on two rocks (cast members), which suddenly become undulating waves. 

However there’s no escaping the fact that unless you’re familiar with the source material, the overarching storylines are very hard to decipher. It’s not a case of sitting back and allowing the group’s movements to wash over you - there is so clearly a story being told here. We are given a sheet of text at the beginning, which goes some way to help understand the piece, but some judiciously placed captions at the start of each section, or short passages of voiceover would elevate Fall And Flow to its glorious potential. 

Fall And Flow, Underbelly Cowgate, until 27 August, 12.30pm.