Unlike the 1960s, if you can remember the 1980s, you were almost certainly in the thick of some protest or other. Breach Theatre’s Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett’s new verbatim musical looks back in showtunes at the implementation by a Tory government in 1988 of Section 28, a hysteria-led piece of legislation which prohibited the so-called ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities.

By making a song and dance of things (using four performers and a brand-new synth-led score played live by Frew and Ellie Showering), Barrett’s production excavates an important piece of social history before celebrating those who protested against it prior to its eventual repeal in 2003 (earlier in Scotland, as one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the fledgling Scottish Parliament in 2000). 

As Stevens, Tika Mu‘tamir, EM Williams and Zachary Willis lead us on a whistlestop tour of invading TV studios, abseiling into the House Of Lords and the irresistible rise of marching for gay and lesbian rights, the result is a piece of old-school, pub-theatre agit-prop, but with brighter suits. If hearing one of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s speeches set to music is worth the ticket price in itself, the show also points up how protest can galvanise communities as they learn to not just say it loud and proud but sing it too.  

After The Act, Traverse Theatre, until 27 August, times vary.