Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen ‘silences fans at secret shows at Perth’s Comedy Lounge’

Hollywood megastar Sacha Baron Cohen has stunned Perth with two surprise stand-up comedy performances that remain shrouded in secrecy after a series of tight security measures.

Appearing in character as Bruno — a gay Austrian TV host from one of his most popular films — Baron Cohen took to the stage at they city’s Comedy Lounge on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights for 30-minute sets alongside Rove McManus.

In a typically outlandish performance, one show involved an audience member being stripped down to his underwear with clamps put on his nipples.

Baron Cohen and McManus also shared a kiss during what was described as a night of “quite brutal but funny” comedy that had the audience into fits of laughter.

The punter who ended up stripped told The West Australian the crowd could barely believe the superstar actor and comedian was on stage when he first appeared.

“Everyone thought it could have been him but were not sure,” he said.

“We were sitting in the front row so I thought something would happen but not that. I was busting to do a wee and of course he got me up to do a makeover.

“I just went along with it, it was fun.

“The comedy was quite brutal but funny. Probably why no phones were allowed.”

Another local comedy fan, who was in the audience on Tuesday night, said the Comedy Lounge put it up on their website as “top secret show” last week and had attracted about 150 people who bought a $37 ticket with no idea who would be performing.

“Then after that sold out they added the extra Wednesday show but by then the news was out he was in town,” he said. “Rove was the host and Sacha did a short set in character as Bruno.”

There is no footage of photos of the secret show because patrons were told to place their phones in lockable pouches that only staff at the lounge could unlock.

It has also been reported that staff at the venue, including security, had to sign non-disclosure agreements barring them from talking about what happened.

“I think it was just done for a bit of fun because Rove and Sacha both happened to be in town,” one source said.

“All audience members had their phones locked away during the show so no footage or pictures got out.”

Speculation has been growing that Baron Cohen and his Perth-raised wife Isla Fisher will remain in WA after attending the CinefestOz festival where Fisher was awarded the Screen Legend Award.

The Hollywood power couple moved from Los Angeles to Sydney with their three children last year but are now expected to stay in Perth for at least the next couple of months amid the continuing coronavirus crisis in NSW.

They spent last weekend enjoying the South West, even visiting the iconic Busselton Jetty and signing a postcard for the workers.

“Busselton is very niiice (sic), Borat,” Baron Cohen wrote, referencing the Kazakhstan journalist for another of his most popular films.