In his twenty years on the scene, Wes Snelling has been one of Melbourne's and Australia's most impressive cabaret and comedy performers. He is a mentor, director, dramaturg, musician, actor, speaker and all-round inspiration who has generally unimpeachable taste, apart perhaps from being a long-term friend of mine, Geraldine Quinn.

OK, I kid.

In this "Part 1" episode of our chat ("Part 2" to come, with a Michelle Brasier-shaped hiatus in the interim), we discuss ever-so-earnest a cappella, minimum wage, Geraldine's building structure fears, Melbourne's lamented and long-lost musical venues, the cultural cringe, too-tight trousers, caravan parks, the perils of telling stories about your family onstage, and why Australian family Christmases really can suck dog's balls. 

Episode image of Wes Snelling's alter ego Tina Del Twiste by Stano Murin.