Dominoes topple … an hourglass is overturned. Time is ever-present in Expiry Date at the Barbican Theatre, an ephemeral retrospective of one man’s life, his scattered memories conveyed through acrobatics, movement, music and dance. 

Joseph sits alone at home, preparing for the final hour. Arms outstretched, he reaches into his past, reflecting on moments of a fast-escaping existence filled with struggle and love. Yet always the clock keeps ticking.

Assisted by her father, an inventor by trade, Swedish-born artist Anna Nilsson has devised a Heath Robinson-esque set, where a ball bearing spins around weird and wonderful machinery and pendulums wave.

It provides a poignant backdrop for an abstract tale about time running out, characterised by four performers and their unpredictable mix of wordless acting, juggling, singing and an incredible hand-balancing act. 

Find out more about the rich variety of West End shows on offer in Theatreland.