Maggie & Me at the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh

Damian Barr's turbulent story of growing up in 1980's Lanarkshire was named Sunday Times Memoir of the Year and is now a Scottish classic.

And his stage play, which he wrote with James Ley, is certain to win many more accolades.

Produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, it is a remarkable piece of work, on so many levels: heart-breaking, heart-warming, immensely funny; immensely sad…plus Maggie Thatcher's in there wearing silver cowboy boots!

It's Brighton 2008 and Damian gets a deal to write about his childhood – mostly the prejudices he faces as a gay boy and man, but also his parents' divorce, his abusive stepfather, his religion and how Maggie Thatcher ruined the lives of the working class.

He's been told that if you can't look back you can't move forward, that to remember you must relive, and so he begins with his eight-year-old self who materialises along with other significant people in his life.

Gary Lamont is superb as Damian. Instantly likeable, he draws us into his colourful story with a great sense of humour even though he runs a gamut of emotions, while those from his past pop in and out, larger than life characters who have us chortling..

It's a tribute to Barr, Levy, and director Suba Das, not to mention the cast, that they can keep us laughing out loud. The script is so well written, so witty, that when the really horrific scenes come along they knock you sideways. That everything really happened makes it all the more compelling.

Sam Angell as the 'Wee DB' is also an inspiration, full of childlike exuberance, while Grant McIntyre as Damian's childhood friend Mark (as well as seven other characters he plays!) is totally believable throughout.

Another stand-out performance comes from Beth Marshall as Maggie Thatcher. The young Damian blames her for shutting down Ravenscraig Steel Works and, therefore, putting his dad out of a job. As throughout the play there is a very serious side but her character has some funny lines when talking about the most serious of things, and all in Thatcher's voice and demeanour – absolutely brilliant! Yes, it's irreverent but it gets the message across, and with Kenneth MacLeod's stunning set and Katharine Williams' lighting, it's a well fleshed out and worthy production.

Image: Gary Lamont in rehearsal by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Maggie & Me is at the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh until June 15

Box Office: 0131 228 1404

boxoffice@traverse.co.uk