Nudity, gay rights and magic returns to Brisbane

Nudity, gay rights and magic returns to Brisbane
Image: The Naked Magicians (Photo: David Alexander; Star Observer)

They’re back and still want to entertain you in their birthday suits with the most “impossible” magic you’ll ever see.

After launching their comedy act to sold-out shows during the 2014 Brisbane International Comedy Festival, the rise and popularity of the Naked Magicians — the buff duo made up of Christopher Wayne and Mike Tyler — has taken the pair by complete surprise.

“In short, it’s been the most mind blowing and humbling experience,” Wayne told the Star Observer ahead of the magicians show in their hometown of Brisbane this week.

“We were just nominated for ‘Best Comedy Show’ by Fringe World, which is a huge deal. On top of that, we are selling out theatres wherever we take the show.

“Last night Arj Barker (one of my comedy heroes) was backstage at our show and was like ‘hey I know you guys, I heard about the naked magic dudes when I played Brisbane’ and I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t get used to stuff like that.”

Looking back on a national tour that started over six months ago, Wayne said each show was a discovery of what worked, what didn’t and how the audiences embraced their “very naughty” show.

“Every show we discover a new joke or nuance that we hadn’t landed on before, “Wayne said.

“It keeps getting stronger and stronger, and I love that about entertainment.

“Considering how risqué the show actually is, it’s surprising that we have had zero complaints so far.”

According to Wayne, appealing to the naughtier, cheekier aspects of the audiences’ nature was a vital component to their show.

“The show is written in a very naughty, but not at all trashy way,” he said.

“It’s designed to cater to that devil inside.”

It came as no surprise to the duo that naked men on stage would gain the attention of some from the gay community, but the goal of celebrating everything about sexuality was central to their wider comedic message.

“We have a great audience that is very broad, and Mike and I both pride ourselves on a show that is very gay friendly,” Wayne said.

“This show is a comedy show that celebrates sexuality, and we believe sexuality is to be celebrated by everyone.”

Speaking to the Star Observer last year, both Tyler and Wayne revealed they also share an inclusive views and advocacy for LGBTI rights.

Wayne, a former Christian pastor who cut ties with his former life and beliefs primarily due to irrevocable differences between the church and his personal stance on gay rights, said that he still receives criticism from religious voices from his past.

“Yep. And I love [the criticism]. In all seriousness, years ago I was a very well known Christian who suddenly and publicly stood down as a person of faith,” he said.

“A lot of Christians responded negatively to this, but I had to make a choice to understand that for these people, their beliefs are very real to them, and whether if they respect my life choices or not, I’ll respect theirs.”

If performing onstage naked alone wasn’t an indication that there was distance between Wayne and his time as a pastor, the show’s ‘explosive’ ending remove any doubts.

“We don’t think we will ever find anything as magical, funny, or naughty as our ending. Without giving anything away, it’s the ultimate climax (pun absolutely intended).” Wayne said.

Tyler and Wayne will be returning home to perform eight shows at Brisbane’s Twelfth Night Theatre from March 5 to 13.

“As two Brissy boys, we could not be more excited at all to bring the show back to where it all started, and to show our home town what the show has become,” Wayne said.

Details and tickets: thenakedmagicians.com.au

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One response to “Nudity, gay rights and magic returns to Brisbane”

  1. What a pair of dim-witted pounces!!..the entire report is about at the level of a 4-yea- old’s first letter but the infantile content of it exorcised from ‘the devil inside’ these two prancing wankers matches their slimy look…thank the stars they were not in full Monty!!

    Thank the sun and moon too, that we have nearly another year before these ‘gay’ twerps inflict themselves in their so called ‘mardi gras’ again, appealing to youth to ‘come out’ for them.