He’s too old to be a twink but comedian Zak Vasiliou isn’t quite ready to graduate to the next label.

A ‘twink’ is a term used in the LGBTQI+ communities to refer to a slim, boyish looking man, normally aged no older than their mid-20s. It’s one of the few non-animal based terms that are rife in the gay community to describe the physical features of other men, including otter, bear, polar bear, panda bear, silver fox, cub, stallion, pup, pig, bull… you get the drift.

Vasilou talks about this quirky animal shorthand of his community while taking us back through his life, coming out experience and musical talent. He’s confident, cheeky, flamboyant and fabulous, regaling his audience with loving memories of funny moments. 

He uses a slide show to aid his reflections and with his parents in the audience, there was a real sense of family even as he talked about them. The comedy works because it’s joyful and silly but always with warmth underlying it – warmth for himself and his parents. That makes his comedy unique and special.

As for laughs, there are many. He’s laugh-out-loud funny, even when he’s bouncing off his over-enthusiastic audience.

Campy humour can be hit or miss and is often uninspiring, but Vasiliou avoids many of the tiresome old chestnuts to give us surprisingly heartfelt show disguised as exposes on gay culture and growing up queer.

A flamboyant fusion of farce and finesse.