Candidates for change is performed by Barefaced Theatre at The Gallery on Redchurch Street, Shoreditch

Stuart Barrow's new play on powerful sexuality and the sexuality of power is a playful commentary on the coalition government. Fragmented scenes dealing with bitter election campaigns and lost love come alive in the small Gallery studio in Shoreditch. This satire of UK politics comes from a former speechwriter and adviser to politicians including Michael Portillo, Francis Maude and Jeremy Hunt. A good marker of the play's draw may be that, about ten minutes in, I stopped guessing which of Barrow's own political memories provided more than just inspiration for the piece.

At the heart of the play is a contradiction. Should the Conservative way forwards be to 'keep it real' or to aspire to reach for the top? Six London women go through trials of motherhood, friendship and lust — all cocooned in their careers but with the determination to succeed. Unlike some modern female-led productions, the script does not lean towards crude stereotypes of power-suited go-getters. Instead, each character’s narrative is believably fragile — a candidate standing alone on the podium at election night or an east-end artist trying to hide an upper-class background. Relationships are not broken and made from ideological conflict or the 'need to get ahead'. They are political to the very core: negations and secrets involved in love, retaining a relationship when work gets in the way.

The set alone would be worth going for. Ballot-box tables and blue-yellow art deco wall stripes were the highlights of a masterful reinvention of the Gallery space. A catwalk of action was negotiated nicely by Peri Olufunwa as the put-upon secretary. Katie Warren and Berri George also gave exceptional performances as conflicting flatmates Dibs and Amber. The love triangle with the suitably smooth Edward Fisher, playing a high-flying city boy, culminated in one of the most convincing stage scraps I’ve ever seen and, for such a small space, that's no mean feat.

Director Kenneth O'Toole manipulated the close-knit nature of the space wonderfully. There are some slick set moments and beautifully directed break-ups where feminine charm intermingles effortlessly with masculine drive. Don’t expect to see Nick, Dave et al in the audience. But do go and see it for a fun subversion of political sexism.

Tuesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 7.30pm. Friday 6.15pm Gala Performance