FULL-ON THEATRE
  • Home
  • STILL HERE
  • STILL HERE - Youth
  • STRONG MOB
  • MUSIC
  • Bongo's Quest
  • Who is Dave Houston
  • AWKward
  • Contact
  • REAL SPECIAL
  • The Australian Festival of Solo Performance
  • Workshop Program
  • LiMBOLAND
  • About Full-On
  • PLAN B
  • Educational Shows
    • AWKward for Youth
    • Workshops
    • Youth Film Projects
    • Evaluations
    • Past school shows >
      • The Table
      • Escape from Worryville
      • Hard Rubbish Day
      • Rising @ Byron High
      • Primary School Shows >
        • Attack of the Plastic Time Monsters
        • The Bongo Brothers
  • Videos
  • Testimonials
  • Community
    • Artist in Residence
  • Film
  • Legals & Privacy Policies
Picture

Picture
CLICK TO BOOK

THE SHOW

Picture
A beautiful, funny and rhythmic performance designed for young children. Bongo’s Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm explores the idea that the ultimate rhythm isn’t something we find outside ourselves—it’s the rhythm we carry inside our own heart, our own song that beats quietly all the time. “You just have to listen.”
​

Join Bongo, the comedian from the comedy trio The Bongo Brothers, on a multicultural, comic musical journey around the world. The show is an interactive, educational adventure that celebrates cultural and musical diversity and stimulates creativity and imagination.
Picture

“After a decade of dazzling kids and parents with their infectious grooves, The Bongo Brothers have created a tight, hysterical piece of musical comedy and wild percussion that doesn’t lag for a second” – The Age, Melbourne, Australia

What do kindergarten and pre-schools say

“The children found the performance really funny and engaging. Children from the nursery room all the way to kinder were entertained. Very enthusiastic, entertaining, with great comedy and facial expressions. The children really enjoyed it. Appropriate language used with the children, very interactive!”
— Wallaby Childcare, Epping (Vic)

Where did the solo performance come from

This solo show  came out of a trio of musicians called
The Bongo Brothers—a children’s theatrical music-comedy act featuring three artists who could all play multiple instruments, one of them exceptionally well. The other two were an actor and a cartoonist. Put them all together, and what could possibly go wrong? The Bongo Brothers toured nationally and internationally for many years, including residencies in Mexico, Cuba and Beechworth, Victoria.

In 2020, during the pandemic, Bryson Mulholland moved to Mexico, and the band now only tours internationally. Dave Houston adapted the show for solo performances in kindergartens and primary schools for Grades 1–3. The Bongo Brothers have created two musical-theatre productions: Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm and Surf Safari. They have also released four studio albums: CaCTuS, recorded in CDMX, Mexico; Surf Safari; Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm; and Who’s Gonna Beat That Drum. Touring primary schools throughout Australia and Mexico, as well as performing at the Scottish International Children’s Festival, The Bongo Brothers have presented more than 1,200 shows to over 215,000 children.


Picture

Albums

WHAT SCHOOL REVIEWERS SAY 
By David Lee  - Who saw the show at Glenroy West Primary School, Victoria.


Close your eyes and imagine the pitter-patter of 250 little feet, a role of gut busting jokes combined with the clever use of caricatures, and rhythmic music mixed with brilliant costumes made to entertain the soul. Got it? This is what awaits, as the brilliance known as the Bongo Brothers take you on a journey ‘Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm’. I am not the normal intended audience for these colourful characters, but I can say that this performance, both intrigued, and enticed me from the get go.

Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm, one of two involving, comedic performances on show by Bongo, Drongo and Mongo, has a subtle educational base, but also relates to a sense of what it means to be young. From the opening scene the audience is taken on a riveting voyage through the jungles and the plains of Africa, with an amusing use of visual and audio effects.

However, one of the more fascinating additions was the underlying positive messages that were sifted throughout the plot, there to teach the audience constructive ways to deal with issues that become apparent through life. Involving the sea of children in their skits seemed to help the brothers perform, adding a breath of life to the whole show. The music followed along the journey using a mixture of Indigenous Australian to the Samba of Brazil, allowing the audience to become engulfed in the lands.

Bongo, played by Dave Houston, Drongo played by Ado Osborne and Mongo, played by Bryson Mulholland, gave vigorous performances. These characters, along with the great atmosphere, made the show enjoyable, exciting and even educational for me. This standout group worked extremely well together, were consistently precise in their acting, and genuinely looked like they were enjoying themselves. All components whether it be the characters, costumes, set or music, caught my attention. My eyes clung to the performers for the fast paced 50 minutes. So, in my first experience with the Bongo Brothers I realized one thing, even though I wasn’t in the right age group intended for the performance, I still found myself really intrigued, amused, and dying for more.
 

WHAT THE AGE NEWSPAPER SAYS


"They’re the Wiggles for funky parents. After nearly a decade dazzling kids and parents with their infectious grooves, the Bongo Brothers have created a tight, hysterical piece of musical comedy and wild percussion that doesn’t lag for a second. With an emphasis on fun and interaction, these talented musicians and high-energy performers will have your kids jumping out of their seats - and you’ll find yourself on your feet next to them." – Patrick O’Neil, The Age, Melbourne


WHAT SCHOOLS SAY 


The Bongo Brothers were incredibly entertaining. The mix of humour was very engaging for the children. They are talented and completely capable of handling the audience enthusiasm. – Janette King, Sawtell Public School, NSW

The students were very engaged. They loved the variety of songs, instruments and history that the show offered. After the show has finished they were creating their own beat and rhythm just like they has been in the show. A great performance enjoyed by students and teachers alike. – Adena Baker, Jindera Public School, NSW

Fully entertaining for the children. We enjoyed a wonderful journey of music throughout the world. Educational & funny – hardly a moment went by without the children laughing. Three great personalities & musicians. Great value – could have gone on longer. - Debbie Brookes, Gilwinga Public School, NSW
 
The students enjoyed the performance laughing & smiling. The students remembered quite a lot about the Australian beaches & the facts that went with them. The performers were fantastically outgoing to the audience and reacted to the audience. Thank you. - Lindenow Primary School.

Great entertainment, pace was good – no down moments. The level of entertainment engaged all students & staff. A great performance – kids learnt a lot. The performers were excellent, with a variety of skills – fantastic. Held everyone’s attention for the whole performance - Frank Partridge Public School

The students appreciate the mix of music, humour & information. The costumes and use of projector enabled students to be visually engaged with the show. We enjoyed the way all three performers interacted with the audience. Well done. - Boort Primary School
 
We appreciate the performers squeezing all they could into the show. It was highly entertaining with a lot of humour that held the children’s attention. A high level of musical skill combined with comical performance – Great!” - Raleigh Public School

“Fully entertaining for the children. We enjoyed a wonderful journey of music throughout the world. Educational & funny – hardly a moment went by without the children laughing. Three great personalities & musicians. Great value – could have gone on longer” – Gilwinga Public School

“The children were involved and had many opportunities to copy and repeat the rhythms they heard – They loved the humour and the acting out by the performers. Very professional. Involved the children Thank you!” – St Patricks Primary School


A BONGO BROTHER MEDLEY
​Home
About
​Contact