A giant penis raised eyebrows on the streets of Helsinki as performance artists braved freezing weather to publicise their cabaret show about personal shame.

"Save the penises — and the men, too, of course!" shouted an elderly woman who said she had come to a square in central Helsinki just to see the giant member.

Playing the part of the 2.5-metre erection, made of brown parachute fabric and inflatable testicles, was one of three Agit-Cirk circus group artists performing in the Shame Cabaret, which has its Helsinki premiere on Friday.

"It's about (the) personal shame of three men. And there is also one penis in the show. It's a bit smaller than this," said Sakari Maennistoe, who accompanied a fellow actor sheathed inside the largely silent-unless-spoken-to phallus.

This is not the first time the giant penis has wandered the streets of Finland, and Maennistoe said it was generally well-received.

"Most of the people like it very much. They want to come... sit on the balls," he said.

AFP

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