AFTER spreading his comedy wings across the globe, Sean “The Unsung Docker” Conway is back on home soil to play the Side Splitter Comedy Festival in Cockburn.
The former Fremantle wharfie burst onto the scene in 2013 when he won the WA Raw Comedy crown and shot to viral fame in the short film The Unsung Docker – a hilarious send-up of a tragic Fremantle Dockers fan who becomes a mascot for the team.
Since then the bearded larrikin has cemented his reputation as one of Australia’s most strident, close-to-the-bone comics with appearances at the Darwin, Sydney and Perth Fringe Festivals, and has supported big hitters like Steve-O, Theo Von, Tom Green, Ari Shaffir and Tony Hinchcliffe.
In recent years – like a big hairy wombat with wings – he’s expanded his cultural horizons and played gigs in Vietnam, Canada and the US.
So what did Conway make of the US – is it a country of extremes on the verge of a civil war?
“I think the USA looks like a country of extremes when the world’s spotlight is always shining on it, but the reality is it’s full of amazing people, but it’s like anywhere, for every million amazing people, there is one guy who wants to take a shot at you on a Florida golf course,” Conway says.
“America is my favourite, but Vietnam is a close second. Vietnam is a beautiful part of the world, but it’s definitely not built for big guys like me – on more than one occasion my butt went through wicker chairs like Godzilla through Tokyo.”
• Freo funny man Sean Conway in the hilarious short video The Unsung Docker.
Conway says he’s inspired by a wide range of comics who do everything from old-school rat-tat-tat-tat gags to observational stories.
“…I love watching Shane Gillis, he is at the top of his game at the moment, to Bernie Mac and Rodney Dangerfield,” he says.
“It’s a real eclectic list, but I also get inspired by a lot of the new guys in Perth rising up the scene like George Evans and Jack Smith.”
And the cheeky Chook couldn’t resist asking Conway what went wrong with the Dockers this season, and if he would be doing any jokes about the Cockburn Medical Centre at the festival?
“Nothing, Freo did everything right to set themselves up for 2025. What jokes are there to make about Cockburn?” he said.
Conway is just one of the great comics at the four-day Side Splitter Festival, which showcases a mix of local and national acts including Luke Heggie, Dilruk Jayasinha and Lehmo.
There will also be group performances with The Big Ethnic Comedy Show, Three Bearded Blokes and Freestyle Comedy, plus audience participation events like Date Night hosted by Daniel Delby.
Now in its ninth year, The Side Splitter Comedy Festival is at Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street in Hamilton Hill, Cockburn on October 4/5/11/12. For tix go to sidesplitter.com.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK