Dream job but only clever dicks need apply Puppetry of the Penis co-founders David Friend, left, and Simon Morley. It reads like a dream job - overseas travel, good money, no prior experience needed - there's just one catch: it involves manipulating your genitals for laughs. Comedy act Puppetry of the Penis are advertising for new cast members for the show that will mark its 16th year in April. Melbourne co-founder David Friend said the key requirement for would-be cast members was to have a penis. Surprisingly, four of the first eight applicants had failed this first hurdle as they were women. "I even asked one had she seen the show and she had," Friend said. The act posted an advert on a recruitment website but was unable to specify gender and had to convince the advertiser it was not related to the adult entertainment industry. Friend said that apart from the obvious, applicants should have a "total lack of shame and a good personality." "We don't like to talk about size but you've got to be able to do the tricks," he said. There's an ancient Puppetry of the Penis proverb - the more clay a sculptor has to work with, the more he can create. The show was born at the 1998 International Melbourne Comedy Festival and has toured the world and employed up to 80 men through the years. It began as "secret men's business," showing at football club nights, sporting change rooms and at university parties, but is now a hens party favourite. Despite the show's success and acceptance, Friend said he believed audiences had become more prudish. He said the attitudes of conservative governments post-September 11 had led to a puritanical view of nudity. Around the turn of the century when we started, everything was open and free and easy. I think we'd get shut down if we started now," he said. Venues where the act has played for 15 years have recently decided the nudity involved is too risque. Friend said despite appearances, the tricks did not hurt and that most men had tried at least one behind closed doors. "There are a lot of people who are not afraid to kick off their strides and have a go at a 'hamburger' but to take it to the next level and go pro in front of a lot of people that you don't know is where you get found out," he said. Friend said there was nothing more exhilarating than walking around naked while making a room full of people laugh. It's very good fun. It's the last taboo, it was something your mother always told you not to do and and you are breaking that rule and making people laugh at the same time," he said. Puppetry of the Penis is seeking performers for weekend private parties and as cast members who may be involved in national, and possibly international, tours. Interested men will be sent a sheet of four tricks to practise before being asked to audition or Friend said they could opt for a baptism by fire and try out publicly with the show performing at Melbourne's Sexpo in November.