A classic romance featuring the quest by an artist, an AI girlfriend and a sex-bot to save the world through the creation of heritage-protected pornography, Shunga Alert is a late-night romp through Japanese sexual culture. Bawdy and hyper-kinetic, it uses shadow puppetry and interludes featuring the traditional shunga erotic paintings to cast a sex-positive eye over unfamiliar activities, before defeating a demon and reuniting the artist with his missing beloved.

As the cast warn, some of the images and practices may seem extreme for Edinburgh: the traditional prints and modern fetishes of Japan (from air-sex competitions to eyeball licking) are challenging and possibly triggering; while consent is advertised, there is a subtext of misogyny in some sections. But by placing the blend of censorship and acceptance in the context of North American colonialism, the weird and the wild resolve into an attempt to renegotiate prudery within an older, more liberal culture. Even folk tales revel in sexual humour and openness. Yet this is a fun and rowdy party show: erotic art saves the world from a rampaging demon and the jokes come thick and fast, with a good humour and playfulness that engages the lively audience. 

Shunga Alert, Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 August, 9.40pm; main picture: Robin Mair.