The Umbilical Brothers

On Application
Australia - NSW
ENQUIRE NOW

Specialty Areas

They have faced off against George Negus, played charades with Harry Shearer, have multi platinum, award winning DVD's, supported Take That just before Robbie left and N'Sync just before JT left (if you'd like Human Nature to break up just give them a call), performed for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance, served a ball into Pat Rafter's  backside in front of thousands, appeared on Jay Leno with their second biggest US fan Robin Williams and are regularly stalked by American and Australian women after the success of their kids TV show 'The Upside Down Show' and sold out their debut season at the famous Tipi in Berlin.
 
Since 1991 The Umbilical Brothers have delighted fans around the world, as they twist theatrical rules and everyday situations into comedy triumph. Time Out NY called them 'Australia's hottest export since vegemite.'

From Hawaii to Tokyo, New York to Stockholm, audiences have laughed like idiots at this acclaimed performance, as Shane and Dave use the entire comedy spectrum to convey their craft in their signature show, Don't Explain. In its incarnation as -Thwak', their New York show which ran for a year Off Broadway, the show was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Most Unique Theatrical Entertainment. Time Magazine called it 'Pure theatre and pure fun'.

The appeal of the show goes across generations. The children in the audience were as enthralled by the physical comedy as the adults, and the more extreme or complex material merrily sailed over their heads. As the New York Times confirmed 'You're left only to shake your head and marvel.'


Awards

  • Winner Helpmann Award Best Comedy performance for Don't Explain 2008
  • Nominated ARIA award Best Comedy release 2008
  • Logie Award Winner Best Children's Comedy 2007
  • Emmy Best Title Design for The Upside Down Show 2007
  • AFI Nomination Best Children's Show 2006
  • Winner Grand Prix Singapore Comedy Festival 2003
  • MO Award Winner - Best Comedy


 

Testimonials

The Umbilical Brothers Are Brilliant
- Leisure Melbourne

"Awesome" and extremely funny
- InPress Melbourne

Like a schizophrenic Police Academy character, the Umbilical Brothers provide realistic but ludicrous vocal soundtracks to each others magical miming.
- The Advertiser, Adelaide

Brilliantly choreographed, faultlessly executed physical comedy
- Chortle UK

Wildly funny, wildly creative...they truly seem to be psychic twins, joined in an irresistible conspiracy to commit comedy...inspired anarchy...silly behaviour of the highest calibre...you're left only to shake your head and marvel.
- New York Times

Twisted and absolutely hilarious...a hell of a good time
- Time Out NY

Fast, inventive, cheerfully crude and wittily self aware, thwak might be classified as performance art, but we call it pure theatre and pure fun?
- Time

The umbilical brothers' "thwak" is hard to describe but easy to love...high points include the abuse of latecomers and a puppet show involving a bunny and a mallet. Even if you think you hate mimes, you won't hate 'thwak'.
- Entertainment Weekly

My faith in comedy was restored. If you thought Lee Evans was the last word in physical humour, Collins and Dundas raise the stakes a hundredfold
- The Times

Over the course of 90 insanely inventive minutes, they both exceed and subvert our expectations of what two wiry men can do with a bare stage and a microphone
- Time Out London

The Umbilical Brothers speaker

Speaker Video

Other speakers you might like:

Tim Gard

Tim’s down-to-earth style and real-life humor leaves a lasting impression that audiences will benefit from for years to come. His skillful use of ordinary items in extraordinary ways and extraordinary items in everyday ways make him one of the most popular main stage speakers on the platform today. Becoming more resilient is not about telling jokes or laughing at everything. Instead of making light of serious issues, Tim shines a light on unseen possibilities for solutions to difficult situations. He demonstrates how to be professional, yet light-hearted throughout all his programs.

John Waters

John Waters is one of Australia's most recognised and respected film and theatre actors. Son of Scottish actor Russell Waters, John’s childhood was spent around film studios and appearing in minor roles. Arriving in Australia in 1968 he was cast in the US film Adam's Woman, landed the lead role of Claude in the 1969 production of rock musical, Hair alongside Marcia Hines, and later the role of Judas in Godspell. This quickly led to a flourishing career on stage, film, and television with ABC TV's Rush in 1974 earning him a Logie Award for Best New Talent, and quickly followed by films such as End Play, Summerfield, Breaker Morant, All the Rivers Run, Nancy Wake and Alice to Nowhere. From 1972 he hosted the children’s ABC program Play School for a decade, and regularly appeared until 1991, endearing him to generations.

Inbal Rodnay

Inbal Rodnay is a former programmer, entrepreneur, and innovator who helps businesses create effective technology strategies and thriving cultures of innovation. She co-hosts the Agents of Change show and is the CEO of Theory and Motion.

Tim Ross

Tim Ross, renowned comedian, radio and TV host, has a significant passion for architecture and design. Over the last decade, he performed his live show, Man About the House, in various noteworthy buildings globally, while advocating for Australian architecture and design. His advocacy work earned him awards from the National Trust and the Australian Institute of Architects. He made waves with his TV series, Streets of Your Town and Designing A Legacy, which tackled aspects of Australian architecture, and he's set to release a new season of the latter in 2023. As an author, he's published books like The Rumpus Room and Scorcher and contributed to multiple publications. Ross curated his first exhibition, Design Nation, in 2018 and toured Australia with his show, MOTEL, in 2019, which inspired a book and a national touring exhibition.

Tim Gard

Tim’s down-to-earth style and real-life humor leaves a lasting impression that audiences will benefit from for years to come. His skillful use of ordinary items in extraordinary ways and extraordinary items in everyday ways make him one of the most popular main stage speakers on the platform today. Becoming more resilient is not about telling jokes or laughing at everything. Instead of making light of serious issues, Tim shines a light on unseen possibilities for solutions to difficult situations. He demonstrates how to be professional, yet light-hearted throughout all his programs.

Speaker Categories

Back to Top