It began with a pink carpet. For the state funeral and celebration of the life of Australian satirist Barry Humphries, the striking fuchsia pile carpeting the stairs leading into the Sydney Opera House was the perfect overture to the event honouring the drama, pageantry and frivolity of the country’s greatest theatrical exports.

Just eight months after the father of four died at the age of 89 in Sydney from complications from hip surgery, more than 2000 turned out on Friday to honour the showman who introduced Australian comedy to the world.