Three doors confront the audience in the cavernous space at Zoo Southside. They turn out to be five doors. A man bursts into the space from the audience entrance door to a driving soundtrack. He struts across the stage and disappears into one of the doors. Another follows suit from the other side. And another. Then another.

Imagine the little people in a cuckoo clock who emerge when it’s sunny or wet but you never seem them both at the same time – and you’ll have some of the mischievous spirit of choreographer Piet van Dycke‘s EXIT. The doors are initially, emphatically, only doors – enabling the performers to barricade themselves in, keep each other out, tilt and topple – only to be met with a closed door – or vault or slide inside with a disarming smile. Then one of the doors flips and the performance elevates and escalates to meet the upside down door.

The perfectly controlled athleticism could cheerfully be mistaken for modern dance when it’s executed with this much charm and flair by the four performers. An inventive set (Arjan Kruidhof, Arjen Schoneveld) allows all sorts of astonishing aerial circus trickery. The speed and precision of the choreography – the taut orchestration of the ensemble work – and the slick costume changes mean (if you’re easily confused – as this reviewer is) you’ll be sure there are more than four people on this stage.

A buoyant soundtrack (Bastiaan van Vuuren) accentuates the playful antics in the early stages of the piece and builds breathtaking tension when the doors – but that would spoil the surprise. Gorgeous lighting (Edwin Van Steenberghen) matches the mood, illuminating exactly the right sections of the set and creating a thing of sparky, thrilling beauty.

EXIT is at Main House at ZOO Southside until Sun 30 Aug 2026