Co-writer/performer Phillips Scott says drolly, "I don't know what made us think of that title."

The rest of us mayhave an idea. For those who don't know, The Wharf Revue is a long-running political sketch satire written by Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Scott. It's written shortly before (and sometimes during) being performed, in order to send up whatever politicians and events are making the news, as well as bringing back some familiar faces. For the past five years or so – since Pennies From Kevin – it's been coming to Canberra, an obvious destination for a show dealing in political satire.

Scott says, "The interesting thing is that with the change of government the revue got some new people to look at.

Some, he says, were well known beforehand, like Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, but others are still making their mark in the public eye. Sometimes it's in a positive way but for others – like Treasurer Joe Hockey's comments about poor people and driving – it's less beneficial for the politician involved but all grist for the satirist's mill.

And this year there is abrand new person to send them up. Forsythe was committed to Strictly Ballroom – the Musical for the 2014 performing season so newcomer Douglas Hansell joins the troupe, along with returnee Amanda Bishop (known for her impersonation of former prime minister Julia Gillard).

The refugee situation is an ongoing one and in this year's revue, Hassan's Heroes is a sitcom set on Manus Island and features the Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison – who's certainly risen in prominence since the election last year. Any resemblance to the somewhat controversial 1960s prisoner-of-war sitcom Hogan's Heroes is far from coincidental.

"It's a very serious problem," Scott says of the refugee issue, "but we're being satirical."'

And while there are stand-ins for Colonel Hogan and Colonel Klink, there's no character representing the look-the-other-way Sergeant Schultz, whose catchphrase was, with variations, "I know nothing!"

"That's the Australian people," Scott quips.

There's a funky dance number, Get Back Your Green Thing (no prizes for guessing which party that's about) and a piece about Blinky Bill (Shorten) and his unionised koala colony battling arch- enemy, the Goanna (Tony Abbott).

And there's more: PUP head Clive "Coach" Palmer who gives a pep talk to his team, the Balance of Power Rangers; a childlike interlude with Education Minister Christopher "Robin" Pyne; Corey Bernardi's beach party, in which a minimum of flesh is exposed; and the Chaucerian Canberra Tales, in which a group of lobbyists including a Miner and a Banker make their annual pilgrimage to Canberra to crave indulgence.

You get the idea. And it's a fair bet that some old favourites such asGillard and Paul Keating will make an appearance in some way, shape or form.

Most of the music in the show also takes the form of parodies, which Scott reckons are funnier than original songs since they can play on the audience's familiarity with the original – as long as it's the right material.

"Our audience is people 40-plus as a rule. There are some younger people there ... but generally speaking we can't do Beyonce."

And the show's content, musical and otherwise, has to cater both to the "political tragics" who come earlyas well as the general public, so they try not to be too esoteric with their references.

"Some things have stayed in the popular consciousness of the time, like John Hewson's birthday cake, Ros Kelly's whiteboard and Peter Reith's credit card – with other things, a week later everyone's forgotten."

Scott says that none of the revuers had worked with Hansell before he auditioned but with his extensive list of stage and screen credits and his pianistic skills he has fitted in well with the others.

Last year, it was Scott who had a year off from the revue: he went on holiday in Europe instead ("It was the time of the election; I voted in London") but he saw the show when he returned and says he was quite happy to watch it from the audience for a change.

But while one original Wharfie can be spared each year, he doesn't think it could work with two down: "the Sydney Theatre Company wouldn't be happy".

No director is credited for the show and Scott – who's the show's musical director – says that while he, Biggins and Forsythe are the principal creators, "it is very democratic in the rehearsal room – all of us have our say".

One of the things that's helped keep the Wharf Revue going – apart from the never-ending supply of material so thoughtfully provided by the nation's leaders – is that there haven't been a lot of imitators, somewhat to Scott's surprise. There have been some satirical shows on television, but not in the same style, so it's not like there's a lot of repetition.

Scott started off his career in political satire working with Max Gillies on the TV show The Gillies Report three decades ago and acquired a taste for it which he's never lost. And, obviously, he's not alone.

"It allows people to laugh at things. We have a go at everyone. We're not making any particular point."

He says people maythink they're left-wing (which he doesn't deny), but points out that they are perfectly willing to send up such issues as the leadership battle between Kevin Rudd and Gillard – althoughthey can't cover everything, they aim for what they can make funny.

In terms of insiders, he says it is people working for politicians rather than the politicians themselves who tend to come to the show ("they know more about it than we do") but there are exceptions – usually after they've retired.

"Tony Burke comes to see it every year and Bob Hawke and Paul Keating had a good time. Bill Shorten saw one a few years ago and seemed to enjoy it."

On the other hand, a couple of prominent News Ltd journalists – one of them the late Christopher Pearson – threatened legal action.

"That was the only adverse reaction."

The Wharf Revue is on at The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre from September 30 to October 4. Tickets $45-$63, Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 62752700.