There’s no denying the power YouTube has given to comedians. In five minute snippets or less, those entering their first year of high school right through to a retiring accountant can make their entrance into the online comedic world simply with the click of a few buttons.
Though, it takes a certain skill to translate a skit in front of your webcam to that on stage in front of thousands. However, The Umbilical Brothers made their rise in reverse in a world void of YouTube, and the video-viewing platform has since allowed them to broaden their audience overseas – which is where they currently are as we speak.
“We’re fine, albeit erect nipples due to the cool weather,” one half of the duo David Collins says from the chilly lands of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
“[YouTube has] been perfect for us. We do 90min stage shows, but a lot of our stuff works very well in 3-5min vignettes. And YouTube is the reason we can visit somewhere we’ve never been before, like Lithuania, and perform to 1800 people.”
And while YouTube has given its benefits, the duo were pretty well off in their career long before it rolled around. From the 25-odd years the comedians have been together, they’ve travelled the world, performed to the Queen (who by all accounts found them hilarious) and have created their own branch of projects respectively. With the whole reason for their companionship a result of a class project together.
“What was to be the first umbilical brothers routine we did in front of our class after a mime assessment,” David says.
“And we were essentially taking the piss out of the mime class. ‘Look, we’ve added sound!’ As everyone was laughing we thought, ‘We may have something here’.”
The laughter grew over the years, as did the outrageous scenarios David and Shane found themselves in on stage – one of which featuring a giant stuffed toy beating them up. Perhaps one of their most interesting to date, is their show KidShow, which despite the name, is most definitely not for kids.
Covering everything from drug-taking, mass-murdering and plenty of other topics that would require some explaining if any child were to witness it, the show actually arose from something much more innocent and PG-rated.
“After we made The Upside Down Show [a children’s television series] we had a full notebook of stuff we weren’t allowed to do. We used that to create Kidshow, which is ironically the only Umbilical Brothers stage show kids can’t see,” David says.
Though, with the label of “not suitable for children” alongside the show surely has kids sneaking in?
“Funny you should ask,” David says before continuing.
“We have had a few parents bringing young kids, and they usually sit in the front row. During the show, if you are to look at them the kids are LOVING the show, and it’s the parents that have shocked looks on their faces – ‘It’s going to be a long car ride home’. Really, it’s only the sex and drug references that would have to be explained. The violence kids understand better than Chopper these days.”
For kids witnessing the show, the potential for mimicking what they’ve seen is highly likely. And with all the “bad behaviour” on stage, it begs the questions, just how bad were the Umbilical Brothers duo in their younger years?
“I used to jump off the school bus when it stopped and run full pelt to my house so I wouldn’t miss my afternoon TV,” Shane Dundas says.
“I came undone one day when the bus stopped right next to the bus stop. I jumped off and smashed into it – [with] much laughter from the kids. I guess that was my first physical comedy performance.”
Gaining laughs seemed to be an early occurrence for Shane, and no doubt David followed a similar path – thus ultimately bringing them together. And despite not knowing each other as kids, the pair are more than certain they would have got along through the awkward teen years, with Shane confessing, “Hell, we’re still children!”
Covering many adult topics in their touring show, David remembers quite well the moment he first became aware of such topics as sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.
“It was pretty much a landslide for me,” David says of when he first discovered the ‘adult world’.
“The same day my big brother showed me a Penthouse magazine he told me that dad was Santa Clause. Yes, I remember that day. Now every time I think of sex I see Santa – and visa versa. It’s very distracting.”
“Moreso at Christmas time,” Shane quickly chimes, with an air of empathy for David’s situation.
Luckily the duo will be heading to regional Victoria six months before Christmas swings around, so there’ll be no confusing moments for David. The Umbilical Brothers perform in Horsham, Warrnambool, Ballarat and Geelong at the end of June.
Written by Amanda Sherring
When & Where: Horsham Town Hall, Horsham – June 21, Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – June 23, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat – June 24 & GPAC, Geelong – June 25
WIN: We’ve got a double pass to give away for the Warrnambool, Ballarat and Geelong shows. To enter email your name, number and show preference to [email protected].