It opened badly, with a dodgy video projected on to the curtains, of cityscapes, swirling water and some bad graphics, accompanied by music that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Visit China advert from the 1990s.

Then, for the next two hours, the audience clapped and gasped in awe as the performers of Cirque Du Ciel tumbled, leaped and flew around the stage.

ShangHi was a breathtaking variety show of acrobatic talent. Consisting of about 15 short performances, the show featured a non-stop soundtrack and non-stop action. Inspired partly by ballet, partly by acrobatics and gymnastics, partly by martial arts, and partly by modern dance, it was hard to predict the next style on stage. The theme of a young girl’s dreams and toys ran throughout the performance, which fit with the circus inspiration. A hugely talented drummer with sparkly shoulder-pads that would make Gary Glitter jealous provided an accompaniment to the backing track.

The show was such a whirlwind of excitement and movement that it’s hard to pinpoint a particular piece for praise, but the three female performers on elevated spinning hoops were spectacular. Dangling from each other’s limbs in dazzling catsuits, it was difficult to see where one ended and another began. Another noteworthy performance was the Mexican hat-juggling act with all the male dancers, including some who must have been younger than 16. Their dedication to fearless contortions, flips, leaps and jumps held the audience captivated.