Nearly five hundred years after his death, the creative genius of Leonardo da Vinci continues to exert influence. Most recently on Italian company, Kataklo, who blend athletic physical dexterity with an appreciation of art.

‘I’ve always had a great passion for Leonardo,’ says the company’s artistic director, Guilia Staccioli. ‘His ideas, his way of looking for new experiences, his infinite thirst for knowledge and his incredibly innovative, curious mind. At the centre of his search was always the study of man – man as a live machine in motion.’

Love Machines tells the amusing story of two daring yet clumsy explorers, who discover a mysterious land inhabited by human/machine hybrids that live life on an angle. For the performers, this meant weeks of rehearsal learning to dance with strength and precision, without the benefit of a flat surface.

‘It has been a very hard task with concentrated attention,’ confirms Staccioli. ‘We had to develop a completely new vocabulary before working on the actions and the dancers could never afford even a moment’s distraction, because they were always on the verge of instability.’

Assembly @ George Street, 623 3030, 8–31 Aug (not 17, 24), 5.05pm, £13–£16 (£12–£14). Previews 6&7 Aug, £5