The Race is an inventive and thrilling piece of physical theatre. Taking impending fatherhood as its starting point, the cast of five play with and explore the contemporary yet timeless issues around this subject. The linear curve of the piece allows for changes of pace and emotion, as well as creating a meditation on life-changing events.

All these themes are held together by stunning performances which are highly visual and extremely physical, but which display a subtlety of tone and a complexity of expression. What in lesser hands could become purely sensation is here affecting and ultimately moving. There is a strong sense of company collaboration throughout and of decisions about content, design, style and effect being thoroughly worked. The opening scene of the soon-to-be-father on a treadmill literally racing to keep up provides a very satisfying metaphor for our lives in 2005. Similarly, at the end the cast create a stunning image by simply running on the spot until they are exhausted. Yet also imaginative and subtle visual images abound; the umbilical cord of the baby being transposed to snipping of a telephone cord for example.

What ultimately makes The Race such a strong piece of theatre is that all the disparate elements combine together to make a satisfying, appealing and powerful piece.