Sibling revelry

As writer-actor Wayne Tunks tells it, his brother Gary is a man full of good ideas.

When Gary first learnt of the Big Laugh Comedy Festival, he suggested to Wayne they should put together a show called Tunks For The Memories.

Then, just weeks ago, Gary had another idea. With the show just weeks away from opening, Gary was offered the chance to travel to the US.

So while Tunks For The Memories is being billed as The Tunks Brothers Variety Hour, it will actually be Wayne presenting the majority of the show, with Gary appearing in a filmed segment.

Wayne says there are significant differences between the siblings. He really is the straight version of me. His jokes are more based on women, beer and farting, while my material is about Britney Spears and I am doing a few things in drag.

The author of the gay play Go West, as well as such other works as We’ll Always Have Wagga, The Subtle Art Of Flirting and Birthdays, Christmas & Other Family Disasters, Wayne says his material in the comedy show is more monologues for a range of characters rather than improvised comedy.

Apart from Britney Spears, his other characters include Glen the drunken bingo caller and an all-singing, all-dancing Amanda Vanstone.

 I know suburbia and I love suburbia, the former Bankstown boy says. I am not one of those people who, when they move out of home and into the city, that is their only frame of reference.

One of the most distinctive things about all of Tunks’s theatre works over recent years has been the range of gay and lesbian characters he has included.

After finishing Tunks For The Memories, Tunks plans to finish writing his next play Hell Hath No Fury, which will be staged with a cast of 16 women in June at the Newtown Theatre. He also has plans for a new play for next year’s Mardi Gras called Silver Top Ash.

I always make my gay characters the strong characters and the protagonists, and I think that is a good thing to do, he says. My gay characters are not the victims, as I saw enough of that when I was growing up when the gay character was always the one who was weak or getting picked on. I just don’t think that is a true portrayal.

Putting gay and lesbian characters in my work comes naturally and there is never a big story with them having to deal with their sexuality. They are just normal people dealing with life issues. I think people coming to the theatre should see that.

Tunks For The Memories plays 28-31 March at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta. Bookings on 8839 3399 or at www.riversideparramatta.com.au.