The Umbilical Brothers’ rollicking new show: The Distraction

Sydney – Tuesday 30 November, 2021. International comedy phenomenon The Umbilical Brothers will present their rambunctious new show The Distraction, smashing together the spectacle of cinema and the energy of live performance from 15 - 27 February 2022 in the Playhouse.

Performing simultaneously on stage and on the big screen, the Helpmann Award®–winning duo of Shane Dundas and David Collins will combine their signature back-breaking physical comedy with live special-effects wizardry, for a hilarious send-up of society’s screen addiction with explosive results – literally.

“It’s us projected up on a huge screen with special effects added in real time. Now you can see all the things we’ve been miming all these years,” says Dave Umbi.

“Who couldn’t use a good laugh after this past year? The Distraction delivers them in spades – big belly laughs and pure escapism that’ll shake out the lockdown blues. This total joy-bomb of a show is a big serve of comfort food for all ages,” says Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance, Ebony Bott.

“Your eyes will be constantly telling you that what you are seeing couldn’t possibly be live. Your eyes will be lying. It’s all live,” says Shane Umbi.

Renowned for their fast-paced mix of movement, vocal sound effects and verbal interplay, The Umbilical Brothers’ appeal crosses generations. Named as two of Entertainment Weekly's "100 Most Creative People in Entertainment", The Umbilical Brothers have appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, supported *NSYNC and the legendary Robin Williams, and performed for the Queen of England. The pair’s swag of awards includes a Helpmann Award® for Comedy Performance of the Year, the Edinburgh Fringe Critics’ Choice Award and a couple of BAFTAs, while their children’s television series The Upside Down Show won them an Emmy® and a Logie.