Seven children, aged between eight and 14, reflected on the journey of life with the help of two video screens, crude make-up and dressing-up props in this challenging production.

A recorded voice instructed them as to how adults behave and the children held conversations with younger video versions of themselves, as we were led right through to the deaths of all seven performers.

This was the final performance of a project started in 2010 which has enjoyed success throughout Europe and posed the question, why do we manipulate our children and repress their natural vitality, especially as the humans we are trying to shape them into are so hopeless and predictable?

Developed by the adult members of artists’ collective Gob Squad with the performers, the children are literally playing with adult supervision.

At the heart of the piece was the energy and enthusiasm of the youngsters. Here was the life-affirming aspect which made the drab adults they played all the more disturbing.

Near the end the voice was challenged – “How come you [adults] always know everything?”

Things never got too dark and all the joyous energy of a kids’ production was skilfully harnessed to good effect.