Very different kind of puppetry performance (From Echo)

Very different kind of puppetry performance

7:10pm Sunday 30th October 2011 in Leisure By Hannah Marsh

AS an actor, Andrew Fitch gets offered all sorts of roles, each with its own set of challenges, but there’s one that’s certainly unique – being one half of a genital origami duo in theatrical phenomenon Puppetry of the Penis.

Readers of a sensitive disposition should look away now, as Andrew tells the Echo how he found himself cast in the role.

Puppetry of the Penis is one of those shows which has attained near legendary status since conception over ten years ago.

The show is the result of sibling rivalry between Australian brothers Simon and Justin Morley. Its first outing followed Simon’s decision to release a calendar featuring some of his favourite creations. He then teamed up with pal David Friend to perform an accompanying live show.

Immediately nabbing an award at the prestigious Melbourne Comedy Festival, it wasn’t long before it came to these shores, packing out audiences at the Edinburgh Festival, winning celebrity fans in the shape of David Beckham, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson, and touring internationally.

Andrew, or Fitchy as he prefers to be known, explains: “When it came to the West End it absolutely stormed it. It came for five weeks and stayed for five months. They started looking for more people to get involved in it and I’ve been doing it on and off ever since.

“This is a new 3D tour, we’ve got 3D glasses so everything really comes off the screen.”

The show’s already been to Southend once this year and was such a success the boys are back.

It sees Fitchy and his partner in crime Rich Binning contorting their genitals into all sorts of mind-boggling, impressive, and often hilarious, positions. But how did Fitchy realise he had a talent for these kind of tricks?

“I think you’d be surprised what men get up to in the locker room,” he laughs. “It’s the kind of silliness that can break out among guys. It’s an art obviously, but it’s very silly and a lot of fun.”

Is it the kind of show he’d perform in front of his family? “I think they’re happy I’ve got work!” he says. “My mum came to see it. She’s very open-minded and I’m very proud to do it.

“My sister came to watch it and she said she was covering me up with her hand and looking at my partner on the other side of the stage, but she got over it.”

It seems a little extreme to innocent onlookers, but Fitchy sees it as just another acting job.

He says: “I do commercials and sometimes Shakespeare, I’ve gone from doing Shakespeare to shaking my spear. It’s certainly very different to a lot of acting jobs, but that’s what I love about it.”

During the show there is the opportunity for a brave audience member to have a go as well. “It’s often the best part of the show,” says Fitchy. He admits there has been some controversy. He says: “A handful of people have made a fuss, saying things like ‘this is wrong, you’re advertising fornication or porn’. It’s not sexual. They should see the show so they know what they’re talking about. If they’re open-minded, they are going to love it, it’s a great, fun show.”

Puppetry of the Penis – 3D, The Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, November 1, 8pm, £14.50-£19.50, 01702 351135.