Sean Choolburra could entertain a microphone stand if he really had to!
The multi-talented performer hailing from Townsville has made big noise in the dance world, made us laugh through stand-up, rapped, and played the didgeridoo. He's even performed for the Dalai Lama.
He's a powerhouse playing AT the Brisbane Powerhouse, for this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival.
Sean will be presenting his solo show 'World By Storm' as well as being a part of 'Aboriginal Comedy Allstars' with Kevin Kropinyeri, Andy Saunders and Steph Tisdell.
We chat to Sean ahead of his run of both shows at Brisbane Comedy Festival.
You’ll be presenting ‘World By Storm’ at this year’s festival. Tell us a bit about it!
'World By Storm' is about my triumphant return through the highs and lows of my career to finding myself through the things that really matter in life.
You’re also part of the 'Aboriginal Comedy Allstars'. What’s your favourite thing about doing these shows?
Being a part of the 'Aboriginal Comedy Allstars' is a fantastic opportunity for me to host and see these guys ruthlessly rock the stage from jokes about home life to social stereotyping from society in a very comical view.
For those new to your comedy, how would you ‘elevator pitch’ what you bring to the stage?
Those new to my style of comedy will witness a lot of dancing and real life stories of hanging with world celebrities and jokes about politics, and also 20 years of stand-up experience, but I believe I am still learning.
You have performed for the Dalai Lama! What was that like?!
Performing for the Dalai Lama was an incredible experience as I was already interested in the Tibetan spiritual leader. I was told by my then boss that the Buddhist community had asked if I could perform for his holiness, and I was like 'wow'. He walked in and I felt his presence even before he entered, and during my dance show he smiled and laughed and said he loved it. He has a really good sense of humour, and we exchanged numbers, I mean gifts, and still to this day I have it and carry it with me everyday.
When writing material, where do you begin? How do things start?
My material comes to me at any time unexpectedly, it’s really weird how it happens, sometimes you may look to write something and it doesn’t come to you, or you may be listening to music and it inspires you and then you write a few jokes. Sometimes it can be from listening to a conversation or watching TV that can help with the writing process. I do a lot of long drives so that’s usually my creative time. I have a very eclectic sense of humour with what I find funny, it could be dad jokes or political jokes or well-scripted, very clever jokes.
What sorts of things will you be drawing on in ‘World By Storm’?
The things I draw on in my show 'World By Storm' is the big picture to understand what life is all about, to not take yourself too serious, and to laugh it off, and my love of dance.
And how are you hoping audiences respond to your material (beyond generally loving it, of course!!)?
Haha, I hope the audience just love the stories and the trip down memory lane, but also to see a guy who saw and dreamt of this since ten years old, and hopes to live life to its complete fullest and have no regrets of saying 'I wish I did that'.
In line with your muso side, describe ‘World By Storm’ with a song lyric of your choice.
How I would describe 'World By Storm' musically would be like the UK hit song 'You’re Unbelievable'. Not sure who sings, it but the stories are quite unbelievable.
Sean Choolburra's 'World By Storm' plays Brisbane Powerhouse 5-8 May, and 'Aboriginal Comedy Allstars' plays Brisbane Powerhouse 8 May, for Brisbane Comedy Festival.
