Full-On Theatre seeks to work with like minded artists and organisations, in an environment where they can make a difference.
Founded in 1988 by theatre-maker Dave Houston, it is now the trading name of NFP raise the heART, formed in 2002 to better support the regional company with arts funding, mental health funding and other independent financial support. Full-On Theatre has received significant project funding across the arts, mental health and disaster recovery sectors. Over three decades the company has created 23 professional productions and more than 30 community theatre projects.
Full-On Theatre uses the art forms of live music, comedy and story, with narratives often driven and honoured by the lived experience of professional artists or community artists, or by true stories discovered through extensive community research.
Our values are simple:
Bring laughter
Bring music
Bring stories to life
The company seeks to connect audiences to themselves, each other and real issues while sparking laughter, conversation and empathy.
Full-On Theatre tours as a professional company and works in community cultural development. LiMBOLAND, for example, incorporated stories and verbatim dialogue from survivors of the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires (2019–2020) and devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods, where the company is based. Developed with two youth ensembles, the three-year project explored the impact of natural disasters while celebrating community resilience. It was part of $350,000 of support from the National Recovery and Resilience Agency for workshops, scholarships, community performances and touring.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
• 1993–1999 – That’s Another Story – a national children’s work that grossed over $2.5 million and had six casts, each performed by two actors. It culminated in touring the Scottish and Aberdeen International Children’s Festivals.
• 1994 – Going My Way? – Dave Houston’s first solo show, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “You’ll struggle to find a more engaging performer in this year’s Fringe.” ★★★★½ — The Scotsman.
• 2005–present day – The Bongo Brothers – national tours and four albums released, including Cactus, written in collaboration with Mexican artists during a three-month arts residency in Mexico City in 2005. Other works include Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm and Surf Safari, with international tours in Mexico (2024), USA (2024), Scotland (2020) and Thailand (2023).
• 2013–2016 – Collaboration with Tom E. Lewis and senior Arnhem Land songmen from Wugularr (Beswick). Highlights include performing at the Darwin Festival (2016).
• 2020–present day – Strong Mob – supporting an Indigenous-led project, including community events throughout this period, NAIDOC events and three-day Bundjalung cultural events.
• 2022–present day – STILL HERE by Dave & the Daves – Dave Houston’s second solo show, followed by a 2024 tour. The work is now departing for TAHI, the New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance, followed by an eastern states Australian tour during Mental Health Month (October).
• 2024 – Created AWKward with Mitch King during a New York residency.
• 2025–present day – Development of Dave Houston’s third solo show, ME vs ME.
MAJOR YOUTH WORK
Theatre projects include The Table, Escape from Worryville, Hard Rubbish Day, Rising, LiMBOLAND, The Animals of Catani Gardens, Attack of the Plastic Time Monsters and Bongos Quest for El Ritmo Supremo.
RESIDENCIES
Residencies have included Victorian dairy farms (2016); Quambatook (2017); numerous schools and communities across Australia, including remote Indigenous communities in WA, NT, NSW and VIC; and international residencies in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Edinburgh, Scotland; and New York City, USA.
Full-On Theatre brings extensive experience working with youth and communities to assist them to tell their story, their way, with professional artistic support and high production values.
Founded in 1988 by theatre-maker Dave Houston, it is now the trading name of NFP raise the heART, formed in 2002 to better support the regional company with arts funding, mental health funding and other independent financial support. Full-On Theatre has received significant project funding across the arts, mental health and disaster recovery sectors. Over three decades the company has created 23 professional productions and more than 30 community theatre projects.
- Creates theatre experiences that are lively, comic, contain original live music and story
- Develops shows with young people, communities and wellbeing partners that lead to social change.
- Tours these original theatre shows regionally, nationally and internationally.
- Promote the causes of Indigenous Australians.
Full-On Theatre uses the art forms of live music, comedy and story, with narratives often driven and honoured by the lived experience of professional artists or community artists, or by true stories discovered through extensive community research.
Our values are simple:
Bring laughter
Bring music
Bring stories to life
The company seeks to connect audiences to themselves, each other and real issues while sparking laughter, conversation and empathy.
Full-On Theatre tours as a professional company and works in community cultural development. LiMBOLAND, for example, incorporated stories and verbatim dialogue from survivors of the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires (2019–2020) and devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods, where the company is based. Developed with two youth ensembles, the three-year project explored the impact of natural disasters while celebrating community resilience. It was part of $350,000 of support from the National Recovery and Resilience Agency for workshops, scholarships, community performances and touring.
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
• 1993–1999 – That’s Another Story – a national children’s work that grossed over $2.5 million and had six casts, each performed by two actors. It culminated in touring the Scottish and Aberdeen International Children’s Festivals.
• 1994 – Going My Way? – Dave Houston’s first solo show, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “You’ll struggle to find a more engaging performer in this year’s Fringe.” ★★★★½ — The Scotsman.
• 2005–present day – The Bongo Brothers – national tours and four albums released, including Cactus, written in collaboration with Mexican artists during a three-month arts residency in Mexico City in 2005. Other works include Quest for the Ultimate Rhythm and Surf Safari, with international tours in Mexico (2024), USA (2024), Scotland (2020) and Thailand (2023).
• 2013–2016 – Collaboration with Tom E. Lewis and senior Arnhem Land songmen from Wugularr (Beswick). Highlights include performing at the Darwin Festival (2016).
• 2020–present day – Strong Mob – supporting an Indigenous-led project, including community events throughout this period, NAIDOC events and three-day Bundjalung cultural events.
• 2022–present day – STILL HERE by Dave & the Daves – Dave Houston’s second solo show, followed by a 2024 tour. The work is now departing for TAHI, the New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance, followed by an eastern states Australian tour during Mental Health Month (October).
• 2024 – Created AWKward with Mitch King during a New York residency.
• 2025–present day – Development of Dave Houston’s third solo show, ME vs ME.
MAJOR YOUTH WORK
Theatre projects include The Table, Escape from Worryville, Hard Rubbish Day, Rising, LiMBOLAND, The Animals of Catani Gardens, Attack of the Plastic Time Monsters and Bongos Quest for El Ritmo Supremo.
RESIDENCIES
Residencies have included Victorian dairy farms (2016); Quambatook (2017); numerous schools and communities across Australia, including remote Indigenous communities in WA, NT, NSW and VIC; and international residencies in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Edinburgh, Scotland; and New York City, USA.
Full-On Theatre brings extensive experience working with youth and communities to assist them to tell their story, their way, with professional artistic support and high production values.
Full-On Theatre tours with professional shows as well as working in partnership and collaboration with schools, health professionals, local government, Not for Profits and youth agencies to create work with teenagers and communities. We deliver innovative & creative participatory arts programs. The company has created over 35 community theatre productions, sometimes with over a hundred participants. They have held arts residencies in dairy farms, schools, and even whole towns. (Quambatook VIC)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Since 1998 the company has received several projects grants from The Australia Council, Creative Victoria, The Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic), NSW Create, FRRR, The Etrea Foundation, Arts Access, Black Summer Bushfire Recovery, School Focused Youth Services, Local Councils, Wellbeing Agencies, Regional Arts Foundation and NAIDOC Local Grants.
They have performed at International Children’s and Youth Festivals and been commissioned to create work internationally. They have recorded music albums in Mexico, Thailand and Australia and have performed in remote shearing sheds to the Victorian Arts Centre and played at major music festivals and corporate events such as the Australian Open, Australian Grand Prix and the AFL Grand Final.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Since 1998 the company has received several projects grants from The Australia Council, Creative Victoria, The Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic), NSW Create, FRRR, The Etrea Foundation, Arts Access, Black Summer Bushfire Recovery, School Focused Youth Services, Local Councils, Wellbeing Agencies, Regional Arts Foundation and NAIDOC Local Grants.
They have performed at International Children’s and Youth Festivals and been commissioned to create work internationally. They have recorded music albums in Mexico, Thailand and Australia and have performed in remote shearing sheds to the Victorian Arts Centre and played at major music festivals and corporate events such as the Australian Open, Australian Grand Prix and the AFL Grand Final.
Contact Dave Houston +61 0411 710 081 [email protected]