Children are a tough crowd to please but a wonderful barometer for how entertaining, engaging and well-structured a 45-minute performance really is. In this Free Fringe family show, Kiki Vita’s slick manoeuvres elicit audible gasps and manic screams in both children and guardians alike, proving traditional juggling and object-manipulation routines can still land with 21st-century youngsters.

Using balls, spinning plates, poles, hats and knives to showcase his higher-than-average hand-eye coordination, Vita’s skills just about manage to keep the fire burning, despite numerous lulls and extended segues causing a bit of restlessness in little ones. Out-of-sync musical cues and slight stiffness in the physical comedy portions make the show feel unpolished, but strong audience participation sections (featuring one mother, two fathers, and one very sceptical child) add spontaneous chaos that is genuinely funny to watch.

Nods to the performer’s native Spain (including a matador dance portion and some bilingual elements) inject a bit of worldly culture but could be taken even further, while well-intentioned negging throughout the performance doesn’t always land with the adults in this room. But based on reactions from Vita’s toughest critics (those under the age of ten), his act was an undeniable hit. 

The Spanish Gentleman Juggler, Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters, until 27 August, 11.15am.