Satisfying fans' desire for classic material with some new twists and turns, The League of Gentlemen's first live stage outing in 12 years is truly a precious thing. The first half features Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton dusting off their old black tuxedoes for a nostalgia trip through sketches like Go Johnny Go Go, Pam Doove's growling audition for a squash commercial, and Charlie and Stella viciously laying bare the state of their marriage over Trivial Pursuit. Brilliantly written and performed with sadistic panache, the most memorable moment features former cave-guide turned ghost-tour operator Mike McMaster, lamenting his latest loss in poignant fashion.

Post-interval, the action becomes more theatrical and expansive, picking up from the 2017 Christmas specials with Tubbs Tattysyrup trapped in Papa Lazarou's 'wife mine', with husband / brother Edward pledging to save her in song. Although the show doesn't quite make good on this musical promise, it does acquire more energy, sense of spectacle and dramatic impetus. Hapless vet Mr Chinnery loses another patient in ridiculous circumstances, gay German stereotype Herr Lipp indulges in some excessively outré crowd work, and ageing rocker Les McQueen croons a low-key retrospective of his modest career, featuring a delightful cameo from the Gents' non-performing fourth member Jeremy Dyson.

Not all of their grotesques have endured, with trans taxi driver Barbara mentioned only in passing, but straight-talking Reverend Bernice rejects any criticism that they're not sufficiently woke in brutal fashion. There's an obscene amount of body fluid dripping from the final scenes of job-centre queen bitch Pauline and the disgusting, toad-loving Dentons. And the mischievous League even manage to send up Theresa May's current trade mission to Africa with a local shop scene that's as near to political comment as they've ever come.

The League of Gentlemen Live Again! is on tour until Saturday 29 September; seen at Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow.