Croatian theatre company Box Teatar’s Golden Gloves is a bit of a mess, but it’s a very enjoyable, hugely likeable mess. Mixing up boxing and theatre – a topical combination, with sport on everyone’s lips at the moment – the show delivers a series of vivid set-pieces describing the career of a young boxer, from his first steps in training right through to a reluctant come-back fight. The tone is all over the place – some scenes are childishly comic, others sexy, others dark and tragic – but it’s all conveyed with such energy and enthusiasm that it doesn’t really matter.

And the quintet of young performers really can take the blows – their high-energy boxing sequences, although often played for laughs, are impressively authentic. They provide their own soundtrack, too – it’s quite disconcerting at first when they swap their boxing gloves for instruments, but when they come together as a full rock band to deliver their final song, it’s with real passion. Don’t go expecting great subtlety or profound insights, but you’ll be sure of an entertaining hour – if a slightly baffling one.

The Bongo Club, 557 2827, until 12 Aug, 7pm, £7.50 (£6).

Golden Gloves - Box Theatre