“Australian humour is getting better all the time and we’re getting better at laughing at ourselves,” Cox said, who is gearing up for his latest performance, Away.

“It’s a fairly broad sense of humour. It’s tongue-in-cheek and it spreads around.”

In a world characterised by a 24/7 news cycle, where flippant remarks can make national and global headlines, Cox’s enthusiasm for the Aussie larrikin could be out of touch – or is it?

Away, billed as an iconic Australian play, examines all the colourful Australian stereotypes, and was first penned by famous playwright Michael Gow in 1986.

A structural drama about family ritual, the issues of young people, death and grief, all infused with the dry Australian wit, are framed on a summer holiday.

As per any Australian holiday, there are the usual mix of “issues” that exhibit the revived sense of Australianism.

Immigrants Harry and Vic are making the most of their time with their terminally ill son Tom. 

There’s also grieving Roy and Coral who are coming to grips with losing their only son during the Vietnam War.

And Jim and Gwen are trying desperately to cling on to their daughter Meg who is drifting away from the family circle by embracing womanhood and independence.

Cox said Away is a metaphor for Australia in the 60s – a young country struggling to find its way in a world imposing its own outside influences.

“It’s a very moving play but it’s also a very funny play in parts,” he said.

“The problems they face come to the fore on this holiday, they are somehow connected and mostly resolved.”

The play’s leads, for example, Tim Lancaster (Tom) and Elise Pascoe (Meg), solve their problems through each other.

“Tom really hasn’t lived much of life so he’s trying to live the most of what he has left,” Lancaster said.

“He tries to keep everyone together and he’s the character that is trying to solve everyone else’s problems.”

What: Away

Where: Wagga Civic Theatre

Tickets: $35 adult/$30 concession

Bookings: Through the theatre on 6926 9688

Session times: 7.30pm, Saturday, November 1; 11am, Thursday, November 6; 11am and 7.30pm, Friday, November 7; 2pm and 7.30pm, Saturday, November 8