Showing @ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Sun 29 Sep only @ 19:30

With survivalist television series now littering digital channels, as one of the pioneers of that onscreen genre, Ray Mears has a plethora of experiences to speak on. He softly talks through a presentation of photographs, peppered with occasional videos, which concentrate on the Boreal Forest and the African continent.

Mears is immediately likeable. Kind-faced and mild-mannered he would be an ideal candidate if you could audition for the role of “fun uncle” for your kids. This gentle approach is reflected in the calm way he narrates the photos displayed behind him. Gone is the emotive background music and changing camera angles of television production (so apparent for the likes of Bear Grylls) and what’s left is passionate enthusiast who just wants to share his experiences.

That’s not to say it’s dull. There’s a sense of genuine excitement for whatever he’s talking about, with nearly every new slide followed by a comment extolling the virtues and attributes of yet another creature. You get the feeling that whatever picture were showing, Mears would find some way of describing it positively, such is his love for the natural world (excluding crocodiles) and this joy rubs off his audience.

At times this passion bubbles over into preaching and the talk at one-point borders on becoming a lecture on conservationism and environmentalism. But for a veteran with thirty years in the trade and with the circumstances as desperate as they are, why shouldn’t he emphasise just how precarious a situation mankind has put much wildlife in?

At over two hours, the litany of photographs begins to get a little stagnant and sometimes feels like getting the highlights of his latest TV series, not helped by very cheesy and unnecessary video graphics. But this is balanced by Mears’ recollections and digressions. It’s these stories and images that set this apart from a night in front of the box. As Mears recounts adventures from his past, it’s his experiences, rather than zoological statistics, that most whet the appetite.

Follow Callum on Twitter @CWMadge