Bob Downe to be roasted for charity

Australia’s ‘Prince of Polyester’, Bob Downe, will have his life revealed and ridiculed at a celebrity roast event that will raise money for LGBTI health and wellbeing organisation, ACON.

Bob Downe’s All-Star Mardi Gras Roast will see various celebrities comically critique Downe by telling anecdotes, hurling light-hearted insults and giving amusing accounts of his career.

“We’re delighted that Bob and some of the leading lights of Australian comedy and cabaret will be burning the house down to help raise money for ACON’s vital health promotion work,” ACON events coordinator David Wilkins said.

“It’s going to be a terrific night full of bitchy, queeny, backstabbing hilarity as well as ritual humiliation, embarrassing video moments and surprise musical numbers.”

Among those roasting Downe is comedian and writer Wendy Harmer, TV personality Gretel Killeen and drag icon Trevor Ashley.

Others also slated to appear include Phil Scott, Queenie Van De Zandt, Scott Brennan, Cindy Pastel and Jane Markey, with more to be announced closer to the event.

Bob Downe is the alter ego of Australian entertainer Mark Trevorrow, who developed the character in the early 1980s as a camp, polyester suit-wearing ‘media star’ who sings and hosts fictional daytime television show, Good Morning Murwillumbah.

Throughout his career, Downe has released albums, performed several shows, written a book and hosted the television coverage of the Mardi Gras parade in 1999 and 2000.

Bob Downe’s All-Star Mardi Gras Roast 8pm, February 27 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com.au