“The centre of everything’s here,” declares King Mark at the start of this play, and by the third standing ovation, it was clear that the Bristol Old Vic audience agreed.

The love story of Tristan and Yseult is a medieval one, but Kneehigh’s new version is firmly tongue-in-cheek, interactive and laugh-out-loud funny in a very modern way.

Here, the action is seen through the eyes of the Unloved, a sorry bespectacled bunch of anoraks, who frequently get the loudest laughs in this big-hearted production.

Cornish King Mark (Mike Shepherd) sends his favoured knight Tristan (the fortunately named Tristan Sturrock,) to bring him his future wife Yseult (Patrycja Kujawska).

But on the way back to the king, she and Tristan fall passionately in love and remain entwined thanks to a potion provided by her hilarious cross-dressing maid Brangian (Craig Johnson).

What follows takes the audience both high and low, but is always unexpected, as director Emma Rice delivers a slick show packed with comedy, dance, song, live music and visual magic.

The lovers communicate touchingly in a mixture of English, Polish and French, but don’t let that concern you – the point here is their universality, and by the end there was not a dry eye in the house.

Fans of Kneehigh will be squirming with delight as this production showcases the Cornish company at the height of their powers, bringing back to life their hit show from 10 years ago.

But the lucky ones are those discovering this fabulous company for the first time. This is one of the very finest examples of contemporary theatre.

Review by Nicola Yeeles

Tristan and Yseult is at the Bristol Old Vic until July 20. For more information, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/tristan.html.