If prizes were awarded for work rate Mark Thomas would clean up.

He penned a 2006 book and show exposing arms-dealing and the subsequent tour has now spawned a breathless spin-off inspired by the serial satirist's attempts to subvert anti-protest laws by organising mass placarding pranks outside Parliament.

The result is silly, inventive and shockingly suggests that the police sometimes sense their own absurdity.

The comedic meat is a list of causes Thomas and co supported. There was the demand for the Abolition of Footbridges "to encourage swimming", his Defence of Surrealism ("I didn't know it was under threat," said a concerned copper). Two banners side-by side could not have been more different - Free Palestine and Free Chocolate for the Unemployed.

All of this was delivered with consummate skill. Thomas rattles off anecdotes with the acuity of a seasoned cabbie reciting the Knowledge. We were left with the lingering image of the people's hero being escorted elegantly through Westminster by PCs Dick and Andy, "like the Noel Coward of Protest".

With this thrilling opening Thomas was his own tough act to follow.

After the interval he returned with an edited version of his darker, denser arms trade set. It was passionate stuff, but slightly at odds with the playful first half which could have easily been the full show in its own right. Thomas is truly a man who doth not protest too much.

In fact the more the merrier.