Full of playful imagination and strength, Nimble is a family friendly acrobatic show that gets more impressive as it goes on.

From Tasmanian circus company ROOKE and held in The Bunker in Fool’s Paradise, Nimble has a cast of three that use a range of objects including large Jenga blocks, hoops, wooden boxes and most importantly their bodies to perform breathtaking feats of strength.

With an unassuming yet comical opening that brings adults and children into simple tasks like stacking Jenga blocks or taping a square onto the stage, it’s hard to gauge your expectations. But it’s precisely at this point that Nimble begins to surprise.

From the moment the tower of Jenga blocks is spilt, a world of imagination is constructed by the performers. The balance, muscular control and mesmerising mime work was phenomenal.

Stand out moments included a hula hoop that truly felt like it was pulling acrobat Gerramy to the ceiling. A fluorescent light stick later took command over acrobat Cece puppeteering her across the stage as she flipped and spun to break free. Adelaidean Margot gave a breathtaking display of balance and power as she made her way across an everchanging path of Jenga blocks.

Keeping the show’s energy at pace were instrumental music tracks, each perfectly suited to the acts’ mood. The repetitive drumbeats or hand claps added a layer of tension to the more dangerous feats, with show-stopping ladders of people and tricks that need to be seen to be believed.

Each performer worked seamlessly with the others on stage and yet there were contrasting moments where one performer surged into high gear while the others were calmly setting up the next trick.

The trust between the performers was clear, and the playfulness a sheer joy to watch. The physical talent emerged throughout as it evolved into a sharply crafted piece of family circus that rewarded attention and invited imagination.

When Nimble’s final sequence lands, it’s clear that ROOKE has delivered a show that’s thoughtful, skillful and quietly inventive. The rapturous applause from within The Bunker was proof of that.

You can see Nimble at Fool’s Paradise until Sunday, March 22. Get your tickets here.

**** ½ stars

Four and a half stars.