Show 1: Natalie Palamides: Nate

Having won the Best Newcomer award last year and seeing a lot of about this year's show, I thought I'd give Natalie Palamides a watch this year.

Last year's was about her hatching it from an egg and then cooking other eggs in an exploration of motherhood and societal expectations of women to be maternal.

This year's show tackles another important issue, particularly in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual scandal and Trump's past horrific comments about women: consent.

After developing the show in California with sage direction from previous Best Show winner, the physical comedy clown Dr Brown, Palamides debuts her show in Edinburgh.

Palamides plays a male character she has previously brought on intermittently in sketches called Nate, a plaid jacket, hairy, macho guy who doesn't express emotions. Nate enters on to stage on a toy bike to heavy rock backing music, after which he proves his manly credentials and cracks a raw egg in to his mouth - this is strong physical character comedy.

What proceeds is an exploration in consent, in masculinity, in how men treat women all through excellent clowning and a powerful, provocative, brave performance. Throughout, various audience members are invited, maybe even coerced into the show, from being fondled by Nate (with verbal consent) or to wrestle him to win the right to be the partner of Nate's ex girlfriend, or play his best friend and abet in some very dubious night time park antics.

Ultimately this is a show with a powerful, pertinent message, into which the audience is lured through an excellent comedy performance. Doubtless a strong contender for the award this year.

Score: 9/10

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard - Beside

Dates: 5^th-26^th August (not 13^th)

Time: 18:00

Price:  £13 (£12 concession) weekends, £12 (£11) or £11 (£10) weekdays