Did you know that nearly half the total murders of the world’s human rights defenders have taken place in Colombia? That’s a grim statistic quoted at the start of Ephemeral Ensemble’s busy, angry show, which dramatizes in symbolic fashion those losses suffered by individuals involved in the struggle for social justice in Latin America. 

Using puppetry and paper explosions, the five-performer crew featured here offer a mix of live music and well-chosen words to outline how authoritarian violence unfolds with the West’s tacit approval. As the excavations of a burial site go deeper, information is unearthed about the life and death of a young activist called Alicia. This kind of tragedy certainly isn’t unique to Colombia, but the details offered are persuasive and personal; one woman describes recognising old classmates lining up amongst her torturers. 

Directed by Ramon Ayres, Rewind does more than scratch the surface, but such striking details suggest an expanded show might tease out the key information further. There was talk in Rewind’s publicity material about removing some controversial information, but there’s not much wrong with the urgent expression that the cold, hard facts get here.

Rewind, Summerhall, until 27 August, 11.40am.