"Political? Oh you have to see NewsRevue then." The Edinburgh Fringe press officer didn’t hesitate in her recommendation. Thousands have witnessed the popular musical since it opened at the Canal Cafe in west London 30 years ago. Having seen it several times in London, the Edinburgh run of NewsRevue is the best yet.

In short, NewsRevue is four people singing satire. Longer, it’s an exceptionally well-written and impeccably timed mixture of sketches and songs, accompanied by musical director Pete Smith. The show touches upon just about every topical newspaper headline: the Budget, Glee, Israel, The X Factor. But without the repetitive simplicity of many TV impressionist shows.

It’s the little twists that make the show though: the feather boas draped racily in a song about Silvio Berlusconi, mime-driving a van full of illegal immigrants in a Disney film sponsored by the Daily Mail, Hilary Clinton’s oversized cigar. Bordering between brilliant and disturbing, the repeated sketch about David Cameron in a blue bike helmet and Nick Clegg as a hand-puppet is a personal highlight.

The actors themselves put in distinct performances but work effortlessly as a unit. Tom Connor’s impressions are spot-on, contorting his face wildly into pouts (David Cameron) and boredom (William Hague). The latter is one of the funniest political impressions I’ve seen.

Fellow performers Amy Westgarth and Annabel King have beautifully agile voices and great comic timing. But it’s Richard David-Cane’s George Osborne take-off that gets the most laughs. Let’s face it: there are many common comedic stereotypes about George Osborne. Mock the Week paints the chancellor as too young, Have I got News For You mentions his rich affluent friends. However NewsRevue have painted him as tricksy and increasingly sinister, wearing pantomime headgear and a cape. Needless to say, David-Cane looks like he’s having a whale of a time playing this particular character.

The performance has the strong individual characterisation of 1980’s shows like Not the Nine O’clock News, but is truly current without being overtly cruel. Surely musical sketch shows are now the perfect way in which to ridicule coalition politics: the confusion, the power struggles, the tie colours!

Occasionally, the youth of the performers does add a student feel to the show. But the script’s constant flirtation with political incorrectness justifies why places like the Canal Cafe and the Fringe take punts on experimental humour. It leaves you buzzing and exhilarated, but also proud that satire is living outside of its usual middle-class older audience.

NewsRevue is on at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh at 6.30pm until Sunday. It is normally on every Thursday-Saturday at 9:30pm & Sundays at 9pm at the Canal Café Theatre, London.