A new production from Vamos Theatre is always cause for celebration and The Best Thing, set in the Swinging Sixties where pop music, fashion and the sexual revolution are in full swing, is a heartbreaking addition to their portfolio of shows.

As a long-standing fan of the company’s work, one of the biggest pleasures of the new work was introducing a friend to the extraordinary world of full-mask theatre. Once again, four actors played a multitude of characters, eloquently demonstrating how effectively a complex story of unexpected consequences resonating through the generations can be told without the need for words. A tilt of the head or a dropping of the shoulders, a shrug or a slight move of the hands – in combination with the fabulous masks which offer instant access to personality, every carefully nuanced and choreographed scene works to evoke both laughter and tears.

And, though there is laughter and delight in the story of 17-year-old Susan, a girl standing on the threshold of adulthood, throwing off her childhood as she prepares to embrace all the Sixties have to offer, there is, at the heart of The Best Thing, a tragedy waiting in the wings.

Even as we see Susan fall pregnant and give birth, even though we know what lies ahead, that she will be parted from her daughter – after all, isn’t that ‘the best thing’? – Vamos manage to delight with a beautifully realised scene in the labour ward, where Susan and two others give birth, producing babies from beneath their skirts like rabbits out of hats.

The mood shifts in the second half as the pain and heartbreak take hold, as we see Susan writing a birthday card for her daughter’s fifth birthday before putting it into a box, a cache of love letters to the child she’ll never know, with others. And, finally, we see that child reunited with her grandfather, the two of them unconsciously mimicking one another’s gestures, underlining their deep connection. As the box is handed over and she warily opens it to find a bundle of ribbon-wrapped cards and letters, Susan’s child learns at last how loved she has been.

If you’ve never seen full-mask theatre, there could be no better introduction than Vamos – their ability to explore profound themes with the lightest of touches is magical, the deft depiction of character through masks – one look at Susan’s adopted mother and a tip-tilted nose designed for looking down and you know who and what she is – and the irresistible mix of humour and heartbreak makes them a must-see.

Vamos Theatre are currently touring The Best Thing, returning to Brecon and Worcester in June. For full details of all dates, go to vamostheatre.co.uk