Penis envy to rival the Vagina Monologues

When it comes to genitalia and theatre, it has been a woman's world, dominated by the all-conquering vagina and its monologues. Now, in the best possible taste, the time has come for a soliloquy to the penis.

After the best part of seven years cornering the market in gender-specific sexual narrative, it was announced yesterday that The Vagina Monologues are to get a masculine counterpart. A play dwelling on the mysteries of the male member and the attitudes of its owners, users and abusers is to make its stage debut this summer at the Edinburgh Festival.

Carrying the suitably testosterone-fuelled title Talking Cock, the work is being written and performed by comedian Richard Herring, one half of the television comedy due Lee and Herring. Mr Herring said his idea was to repeat the success of The Vagina Monologues by re-acquainting the 21st-century male with his phallus.

A statement said: "The penis inspires lust, fear, awe and laughter. And yet, it is an object of shame and, when engorged, indecency. Though men may brag and exaggerate about their little chap, they rarely talk about their feelings for it. Isn't it time for a Vagina Monologues with balls?"

The Vagina Monologues, written by the American playwright Eve Ensler, features actresses discussing the intimacies of the female genitalia and sexuality, based on the experiences of interviewees.

Quite whether Talking Cock will draw the same calibre of performer remains to be seen, but Herring and his backers are harnessing the full power of technology to gather material. They have set up a website (www.talkingcock.co.uk) carrying a 69-entry questionnaire on the nature of the penis.

As well as exploring masturbation, deformity and circumcision, Herring is keen to get to the bottom of the debate about male motivation. Question 24 reads: "Who is the captain of your ship, you or your penis?"