A STREET fellow pushes his way through the audience, all the time politely apologising as he trundles two battered suitcases towards the stage.

He’s wearing a tatty top hat, decorated with a tired flower, his face still smudged with the red and white paint of yesterday’s laughter. Pinned to his coat are raffle tickets, all bearing the number 13 – his number.

Adam is a most original sinner, but it is not his fault, so he has amassed a pile of evidence for his chance appointment with the main man at the pearly gates. He wants to get into paradise and he’s ready to rewrite history to make that happen.

Based, very loosely, on a short story by Mark Twain, Gordon Duffy-McGhie, pictured, performs his wordless story in a masterclass of mime. With all the condiments of the original first story, he pulls Eve from his rib-cage DIY style, eats the sinful apple and tackles the seductive snake.

Sound and light are innovative, carefully corrupt and everything about this oneman show is just plain funny.

This sad, poignant clown performs biblical balloon modelling in his baggy long johns, with some hilarious results. His captivating physical style of theatre produced peels of laughter from an adoring audience.

Watch out for an ingenious bit of stitchery below the waist and ladies, please make sure your mascara is waterproof.

Barnard Castle actor Duffy- McGhie adapted this piece for the Prague Fringe Festival where he won the equivalent of a Fringe First in September.

Requiem for Adam will tour small venues in the North-East, dates to be announced – simianfeatures.co.uk

Helen Brown