Puppetry of the Penis was born when Simon Morley teamed up with fellow puppeteer David Friend. Their first show at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy Festival was received as the "Outright Best Show".
The name Puppetry of the Penis was originally conceived by Simon Morley, as the title of a highbrow art calendar. Released in 1997, the calendar showcased twelve of Simon's favourite penis installations (known as "Dick Tricks"). Years before, Simon's youngest brother, Justin, had shown him his first installation - 'The Hamburger'. Natural sibling rivalry resulted in the evolution of a grand repertoire of genital gesticulations.
It was on New Year's Eve in 1997, with a garage full of calendars to sell and burgeoning requests for live demonstrations that prompted Simon to team up with David "Friendy" Friend and unleash their talents on the world.
Their debut at the 1998 Melbourne International Comedy Festival was a huge hit, kicking off an eight-month tour of Australia. The national tour covered 20,000 kilometres and was been captured in the documentary Tackle Happy.
Subsequent sell-out runs in Sydney and Melbourne encouraged the boys to take their wares to the 2000 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, where they were humbled by yet another sell-out run. When a West End producer realized the potential of the show (after attending a performance where the woman sitting next to him wet her pants laughing), the world was no longer safe from the Art of Genital Origami! Contracts and mops were brought out, and a deal was made on the spot: PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS was on its way to London's West End.
After five years touring the world and successes from The West End to Broadway, it was time for the boys to come home & hang up their capes. In 2005 they launched their 'So Long' tour and prepared to say good bye. Little did they realize that Australia had not finished with them yet and they subsequently toured Australia extensively throughout 2006 and 2007 doing the 'Resurrection' tour.
PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 8 consecutive years, consistently selling out the prestigious Debating Hall at the Gilded Balloon!
As of today most of the Western World has played host to PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS including Australia, the UK, the USA, Germany, USA, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Argentina and Switzerland.
2008 brings the boys to a Decade of Dick - or as they like to say 'A Dickade'! Due to popular demand Simon & Friendy are still taking the penis to the people with performances this year in all Australian States & Territories, Canada, USA, the UK and South Africa.
