Stonewall

A glitter-encrusted account of the days leading up to the start of the Stonewall riots in New York City - reverently described as 'the most glamorous night of civil disobedience in history - Rikki Beadle-Blair's comedy drama provides a sharp, shocking history lesson.

If that doesn't immediately appeal, then note that it's history as seen through the eyes of a fabukous, bitchy and emotionally vulnerable 'flame king' named La Miranda (Alexis Gregory) and accompanied by a soundtrack of Motown girls group numbers literally interpreted by the nine-strong cast.

The central story is simple enough - boy meets boy (dressed as girl), they fall in love, and ups and downs ensure. The other threads are more complicated: the businessman who refuses to be seen with his transvestite partner; the gay rights campaigner who believes in making small sacrifices in pursuit of big changes; and the ongoing battle against the brutal and humiliating tactics of the NYPD.

If it's disarming when the glib, superficial interactions give way to a seduction scene of mind-blowing intensity, then it's nothing compared to what follows - a single moment that instantly transforms this from a play about gay experiences in 1960s New York to something universal that at once provokes anger and overwhelming sadness.

This is, ultimately, an inspirational performance that's relevant to anyone who has a heart. The lump remained in my throat long after I left the theatre.