What a wonderful instrument is the human voice, what incredible potential for conveying all that is particularly special to us from joy to sorrow to anger. In this fantastical sound-scape singer, composer and musical director, Verity Standen with Ellie Showering and Dominie Hooper lead us through a series of rooms in each of which lies some observation about the human condition distilled into a few sung words or sounds. Here sounding like bells, there sounding like a barber shop trio or again like monks or nuns singing plainsong.

Sceptical of an experimental a cappella act? Prepare to be won over. This admittedly experimental, work-in-progress (Edinburgh bound) swings gaily from a comic, bouncing competition to a lament on love, from competitive harmonies to harmonious harmonies and all done with wit, charm and intensity. It does what any work of art worth its salt does which is take you to another place and show the possibilities of things. What a better world it would be if your computer could sing to you or if First Great Western could apologise in song when things go wrong.

The show which has at its core a kaleidoscope of intricate harmonies is sprinkled with little observations on the contemporary human condition that are quite simply thought provoking and in a way that probably wouldn’t have happened with dialogue or words alone. Hmmm, strange that.

The singers all have fine, clear, expressive voices and mobile faces, which add a strong visual dimension to the act. The small amount of choreography is witty and apposite. This is a short piece, thirty five minutes or so and is being developed into a longer show for Edinburgh and the future. At the end the audience were invited to meet the singers in the bar and asked to give their thoughts on how it might develop, so ‘made in Bristol’ could take on a whole new meaning. It’s on again tonight so get down to the Wardrobe, be entertained as I’m pretty sure you won’t have been before and chip in your twopenn’orth.

This show is a wonder as it is, treading new ground and exploring the possibilities of the instrument. Who knows where it can and will go?    ★★★★☆   Graham Wyles    22/05/14