The fluffy dice in his Monaro were getting in the way of his driving, so he got a Honda Prelude instead.

When Avati does tie the knot he knows that distant relatives will give him at least one new car, maybe an Alfa Romeo, and will pin enough money on to his bride's dress that he will be able to buy a house.

''I might just do it as a business decision - the weddings are massive,'' he said. Hopefully his new bride will like his furniture, it's in top condition. ''I bought a lounge suite and some coffee tables and chairs about three years ago and I've just taken the plastic off,'' he said.

Avati is part of the comedy touring gig Comicus Erectus, which organisers have said is Italian for stand-up comedy. It pokes fun at life in Greek and Italian culture in Australia, in much the same spirit the Acropolis Now television series did in the 1980s and 90s, but in a more up to date way.

The show is coming to Canberra on August 2.

''[The movie] Wog Boy put ethnic humour on the map but it's really a bit of a throw back now,'' Avati said.

''We have all moved on, some of the guys in the show have kids and we talk about how different it was growing up in the 70s and 80s as a wog as compared to growing up today.''

The way Avati sees it, the kids today have it easy because, for some reason, their grandparents have gone soft. ''I used to get hit with an electrical cord, but the kids these days can't understand that because they're from the wireless generation,'' he said.

Avati is joined on the tour by George Kapiniaris who is better known as Memo from Acropolis Now, New York performer Basile and the comedian Tahir who was in Fat Pizza and Swift & Shift.

The Sunday Canberra Times has five double passes to Comicus Erectus at the Hellenic Club on Thursday, August 2. To have the chance to win one of the passes send your name and contact details to The Canberra Times Comicus Erectus competition, and be prepared to collect your tickets from 9 Pirie Street, Fyshwick. Competition closes July 31.