That’s the Ambassadors, by the way, of Western Washington University, in the US city of Bellingham – though the photograph on the right might easily lead you to a different conclusion.

A group of seven young performers from this state-funded academy are in Oxfordshire this week on what has become an annual visit to Sophie’s Barn, a performance space commemorating Sophie Large, killed aged 19 in a road accident, at her parents’ home in Chacombe. Their Northwest Shorts were presented to a full house there last night, and will be given again tonight at The Mill in Banbury.

Among the six brief dramatic pieces comprising this amusing and thought-provoking show was Aaron Shay’s Johnny Elgam and the Newport Kid. This was a splendid Wild West spoof in which cool dude Johnny, memorably portrayed by 6ft 6in Kyle Henick (pictured right) took on – and whupped – an attempted usurper to his title (Andy Davison) . . . as king of Pocémon.

The climax to the tussle was even funnier when repeated by the actors in Japanese (clever chaps!) – appropriate not only in the origins of the game but because the Ambassadors will be performing the sketch in Japan in a few days time as their tour continues.

Repetition also proved valuable (isn’t it always with comedy?) in the double dose we were given of Solomon Olmstead’s Scent of Man, in which was revealed a chap’s motivation in growing a luxuriant moustache (chiefly to overcome his belief that he was “bland, vapid, lifeless”).

Altogether more serious was Michael Wallace’s The Square, a disturbing study of social exclusion based around a schoolyard game, in which the whole talented company was involved.

I felt it a privilege to share in this evening, and thank all those responsible – including director Rich Brown and thrilling singer Rashawn Scott – for working so hard for us.