NINETEEN is an age when young men start to wrestle with the big questions, like what is the meaning of life? And how does this washing machine gizmo work? Martyn Odell is wrestling with something altogether different.

The barman was hand-plucked from obscurity as the first Brit to join the Puppeteers, the Australian duo who turned playing with their bits into an art form.

Puppetry Of The Penis features two strapping men manipulating their genitalia into various shapes, objects and landmarks.

Installations include the Loch Ness Monster, Windsurfer and the Slow Emerging Mollusc.

Martyn skipped the gruelling round of auditions and rejections that precede most stage careers.

He said: "I worked the theatre bar in Harlow and really enjoyed the show on the first night. I talked to the guys and on the second night, I did the Hamburger onstage."

He had no acting experience prior to his astonishing debut.

"I haven't ever done anything like this, so it's quite a funny way to start."

From the first Hamburger witnessed that fateful evening in August, he has worked non-stop.

He has toured Britain extensively, performing every night in venues all over the country. Not that a gruelling schedule can keep him down; his bounce and energy are apparent.

When asked if there had been any on-stage disasters, he said: "How could there be? Nothing's more embarrassing than getting up on stage with your kit off!

It's been an amazing experience."

Best moment so far?

"I was doing a trick in Brighton and my buddy said: 'How strange is that?' A lady in the audience yelled out 'You're not strange. You're beautiful!' That was a nice moment. I felt flattered - as much as can be expected, considering I was stood on stage playing with my bits."

What about the audience?

What kind of people does the show attract?

"The audience is made up mostly of women, on hen parties and girl nights, that sort of thing. The show is completely non-sexual, but I think people who haven't seen it think it's going to be like a strip show or something. It isn't at all. We're just a couple of naked guys on stage, making people laugh by doing some pretty extreme stuff with our tackle. Judging from their reactions, it works."

After such an interesting start, does the stage seem a career option? "I don't know what the future holds, but the experience I gained doing Puppetry Of The Penis has been invaluable. I would love to get more experience and pursue a career in acting, see what the stage holds for me. But if all fails - what a great thing to have on my CV."

Puppetry Of The Penis will be at The Grand Opera House, York, on November 1, at 8pm. Tickets: £13/£15.50 on 0870 606 3595