“Ya die! Ya die! Ya die! YA DIE!” Normally, if hundreds of people are screaming this at you while pointing accusingly, you’ve had a very bad night. But in The Dark Room, the rules are gloriously different.

As the lights go down, we’re transported into a 1980s-style text-based adventure game. Our only hope? A nameless guide who has clearly gone quite mad after years trapped inside. Imagine if Treguard from Knightmare and Rhys Ifans had a baby, then abandoned it somewhere in the Mad Max universe – that’s your man.

What follows is far more fun than we could have ever anticipated. Robertson’s clowning, energy and sheer commitment to character sweeps the entire audience along with him – which is vital, because the audience really does drive the show.

Sure, there’s a healthy smattering of gamers in the crowd (highlighted beautifully when one poor soul’s choice of “favourite Zelda game” was met with groans and a derisory “what a terrible choice” heckle). But you really don’t need to know your Jet Set Willy from your Jet Set Radio to enjoy this show.

Players are selected from the audience in a number of inventive ways (our personal favourite: The Guard of Shadows), move through the game via a series of preposterous choices and even win “prizes” for their efforts – on that note, watching a congratulatory baguette sail across the crowd towards a freshly deceased contestant 100% earns a chef’s kiss!

This is one of the most original, anarchic and laugh-out-loud shows we’ve ever had the pleasure to stumble into. John Robertson has created something fantastical, and we’ll be recommending it to all ye who dare enter.

Clown Stars: * * * * *

@Gilded Balloon – Patter House, Edinburgh

Find out more about the tour at thejohnrobertson.com or, for something a bit different try playing The Dark Room on Steam