Wayne Sleep is a doyen of the dance world. If you’re medium aged and keep half an eye on what’s going on in the West End, or if you had a regular Saturday night date with the TV pre-Strictly, you’ve likely at least heard of him. You might also have seen him do comedy, film, sing and break a Guinness World Record, at Roy Castle’s behest.

His Fringe show, for one week only, sees him in conversation with another esteemed dancer, Jacquie Brunjes. Their chat is interspersed with photos and film clips, showing Sleep’s superb technique in action. ‘Awake in the Afternoon’ is a charming window into some of Sleep’s formative experiences.

If you know your ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov gifted him a move that had previously only been seen in the hothouse of classical ballet, Russia. Kenneth Macmillan created numerous roles for him. He was mates with Rudolph Nureyev. Dame Ninette de Valois named him the most talented dancer that the Royal Ballet School had ever produced. And he partnered a famous member of the Royal Family for her only known on-stage performance. Branch out of ballet and his life’s like a Who’s Who of the entertainment industry.

For a ballet dancer esteemed for his technique, Sleep went on to prove himself astonishingly versatile so if you have any interest in performance, you’ll find this fascinating. Even if you don’t, Sleep’s charisma is such that you’ll find yourself willing him to break out of Brunjes’ professional grip and run wild with his storytelling.

He’s bringing out a new memoir in the autumn, Just Different, with promises to be packed with the anecdotes that he tantalisingly trailed this afternoon. Sleep and Brunjes attempt to wrap up the show with a wee shoe shuffle on a pocket handkerchief of a stage. The choreography’s cramped but Sleep still dazzles.

‘Awake in the Afternoon‘ is at Pleasance Courtyard – Cabaret Bar until Sun 25 Aug 2024 at 14:30