The Ministry Of Lesbian Affairs
Kiln Theatre, London
★★★★

“THERE’s a rainbow flag in every high street window but no lesbian bar” goes to the heart of Iman Qureshi’s new musical play, which brilliantly highlights the ongoing erasure of queer women who are still “on the margins” of a society ostensibly more comfortable with queerness than ever before.

It is one of many salient points raised by the indomitable Fi (Liz Carr) after crisis has beset the Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, a small but eclectic London lesbian choir, following their biggest public appearance to date.

Leading the troop is OWL (old, wise, lesbian) Connie, in a delightful performance from Shuna Snow whose unrestrained enthusiasm provides much of the audience laughter but whose “old-school” song selections stir consternation in the group.

She’s thrilled to have two newbies on board in the form of black broadband engineer and supreme soprano Lori (Leah Harvey), who invites along Qatari housewife Dina (Serena Manteghi), during a home connectivity check-up, in order to placate her candid advances and offer her some much-needed relief from her domineering husband.

Completing the septet are Lori’s equally insecure, white bisexual partner Ana (Georgie Henley), the flirtatious firebrand Ellie (Fanta Barrie) and sagacious trans-woman Bridge (Mariah Louca). Zak Ghazi-Torbati plays “The Men,” who, aside from one very amusing cameo, offer a threatening presence in the face of the group’s edifying internal safety.

That spicy but soulful camaraderie begins to rupture as they find themselves set upon by a social media backlash, and the leaky roof under which they meet off Soho’s Dean Street provides the metaphor for the underlying fissures which rapidly surface.

The plot structure is a little uneven, with a pacy, upbeat first half giving way to a more ruminating second. A delightfully daring update of Favourite Things provides the musical highlight alongside a mellow rendition of Disclosure and Sam Smith’s Latch.

Some of Qureshi’s quips — “no nuts allowed” — are a bit on the clunky side, but as a state-of-the-nation style check-up on lesbianism and its many faces, this uplifting rallying cry for unity is a much-needed tonic for our times.

Runs until July 15. Box office: (020) 7328-1000, kilntheatre.com.