Throw together some Queer theatre, clowning, deep therapy, the X Factor and you have Plewds.

Plewds travels through the story of a Queer person as they try to get over a break up, but it’s more than that – it’s about identity, Queer stories and injustices of this.

Katherine Payne starts and ends the show unconventionally, they are very meta throughout, and admit this with not knowing how to start or end the show. The hardest parts, but certainly not the hardest they have experienced. We are taken through high levels of clowning and comedy and then thrown quickly and deeply into reality and despair. This sets us up each time for a roller coaster of emotion and makes the break down of their story even more poignant towards the end.

The characters they create are well constructed, if not clowned versions of stereotypes, helping to deliver the stories but make political and social commentary, A male detective who believes a lesbian interaction is an example of them as “just friends”, continuing to showcase the misconceived ideals through history.

There is of course audience participation (this is fringe) and these elements are just as funny as the pre-planned production. It adds a fantastic layer to the production and the audiences really getting into their tasks brought comedy and a comfortable break in the forth wall.

Plewds has a important message of identity of Queer people and Queer relationships and can resonate with many. But at the same time, it is a lot of fun and full of clown-fuelled comedy.