Warning: This article may contain traces of nuts…
When it comes to Australia, we’ve had some pretty good things originate from our shores.
From Vegemite, Kath and Kim, the Hills Hoist and even the Hemsworth brothers, Australians have a lot to be proud of.
Another, maybe lesser known product of Australia is Puppetry of the Penis, which was born out of Simon Morley’s Melbourne garage in 1997.
Since then, Puppetry of the Penis has been travelling the world and exposing audiences to the art of genital origami for over 20 years.
And now, after a successful run in Las Vegas, puppeteers Barry Brisco and Rich Binning are once again bringing the show to local audiences.
“We always say that we don’t work hard at Puppetry of the Penis, but it is very hard to stand on stage completely nude for over an hour and keep everybody’s attention,” Barry laughed.
“I mean it’s hard enough to stay completely nude in our own bedroom with just one person and just keep their attention.”
Originally joining the show in 2003 for two years, Barry made his comeback in 2015 and has been wowing audiences with his unique talent ever since.
“I’m an actor and if I want to be an actor and performer, then a performer should put everything they’ve got into their performance,” he said.
“I am literally showing you that I am putting everything I have into this performance.”
Projected onto the big screen, audiences will get to see all the nuts and bolts involved in some of the boys’ signature tricks such as ‘The Eiffel Tower’, ‘The Pelican’ and ‘The Hamburger’.
“A penis is a funny little thing and now it’s finally getting its time on the stage,” Barry said.
But it hasn’t always been fun and games.
“I was doing a trick and I wasn’t quite paying attention,” he said.
“I was pulling one way and turning the other way and I literally felt something break, so I went to the doctors and he said ‘yeah you kind of snapped something’.”
Puppetry of the Penis will on at the Evan Theatre on Wednesday, May 2 at 8pm. This is an over 18s only event. Tickets cost $47.65. To purchase tickets, visit www.penrith.panthers.com.au .
Lauren Suttie is the Weekender’s General & Community News journalist.
