Superwogs Theo and Nathan Saidden Grow Up (a Little) in 'Son of a Donkey'

When 'Superwog' first exploded onto YouTube screens over a decade ago, brothers Theodore and Nathan Saidden captured a generation with their chaotic blend of suburban realism, family dysfunction and wog-fuelled absurdity. What began as homemade sketches filmed on a camcorder in their parents’ living room has evolved into one of Australia’s most recognisable comedy brands, now making its latest leap with 'Son of a Donkey', which premiered on Netflix yesterday and is already the number one most-watched show in Australia.

The new six-episode series, produced by Princess Pictures and supported by VicScreen through the Victorian Screen Incentive, marks a major creative milestone for the brothers. Written, directed and performed by the Saiddens, 'Son of a Donkey' brings their unique brand of multicultural comedy into a more structured, story-driven world without losing the reckless energy that made Superwog such a hit.

“The idea of doing a serialised show was something Nathan and I always knew we would tackle one day,” says Theo. “It was one step closer to a movie for us. When Netflix came on board, that became a reality. They gave us the chance to take things to a whole new level and really explore that new format in a way that expands the comedy but also gets the audience hooked.”

In 'Son of a Donkey', Theo once again plays a version of himself - a young man desperate to prove his independence who instead finds himself in court-ordered therapy after a road-rage incident. Between a full-time job, family drama and a tendency to overreact, he learns that adulthood is far messier than expected. The familiar ingredients are all there: unpredictable parents, loyal but unhelpful friends, and a streak of ridiculous self-belief that could only belong to a Saidden creation.

The Family Circus

For the brothers, the foundation of their humour remains the same as when they started filming as teenagers. “It all starts with looking into our childhood,” says Nathan. “The characters are based on our own lives and experiences. We’d explored dysfunction in our previous TV show and our YouTube sketches, so this time it was about peeling back more layers in a way that allowed us to make more people laugh - and hopefully relate.”

That relatable dysfunction has long been the secret to the Saiddens’ success. Their comedy draws on their upbringing in Sydney as the sons of a Greek-Egyptian mother and Egyptian father, whose personalities and arguments famously inspired some of their earliest sketches. “We hear from fans all the time that they relate because of their own family dysfunction,” Nathan adds. “We just want to make people laugh and know that a lot of people can see themselves in these stories.”

While 'Superwog' focused on self-contained sketches, 'Son of a Donkey' embraces a connected, overarching story arc. For Theo, that shift was liberating rather than restrictive. “At first, the serialised format was daunting,” he admits, “but we quickly found that it actually allowed a deeper exploration of character, which in turn let us squeeze more comedy out of them. We wanted each episode to be funny on its own but also to show growth throughout the season, all while making everything bigger and really pushing the limits.”

That combination of heart and chaos reflects the brothers’ evolution as both storytellers and performers. Their humour still thrives on exaggeration and cultural clash, but now it carries emotional weight. The result is a show that feels both familiar and fresh, a snapshot of adulthood viewed through the lens of the same kids who never quite grew up.

Behind the Laughter

The Saiddens’ Greek-Egyptian heritage remains central to their comedy, but they see their stories as far broader than cultural parody. “We’ve always said that our shows aren’t just about being a wog, they’re about being human,” says Theo. “Family, pride, dysfunction, love -  those things translate anywhere.”

Australian audiences have long embraced the Saiddens’ fearless humour, and now their reach extends to Netflix viewers across the world. The brothers credit that relatability to the authenticity of their writing. As Nathan puts it, “You don’t have to be from a migrant family to understand what it’s like when your mum overreacts, your dad yells for no reason, and your friends make things worse.”

For all the success and recognition, the brothers still work the same way they always have - by trying to make each other laugh. “We’re always trying to break each other in a scene,” says Theo. “It might be deviating slightly from the script or performing it differently, but it makes it so much fun.”

Nathan is quick to add, “Theo definitely cracks up first.”

The sibling chemistry that drives their comedy is as strong as ever, blending affection with competition. It’s a dynamic that has carried them from filming backyard sketches to collaborating with Netflix, and keeps the laughter real, both on and off camera.

What’s next for the brothers?

For now, they’re enjoying the moment. The global debut of 'Son of a Donkey' marks another step in a journey that began with little more than curiosity and a cheap camcorder. But if their past is any guide, the Saiddens aren’t slowing down.

When asked who they’d love to work with next Theo doesn’t hesitate, laughing, “We’ve been lucky to work with so many great actors and comedians already, but it would be cool to cast John Cleese because we grew up watching his sketches. And Homer Simpson would be good too.”

It’s an answer that perfectly sums them up: irreverent, nostalgic and grounded in the joy of making people laugh. Whether as Superwog, Son of a Donkey or whatever comes next, Theo and Nathan Saidden have built a world where absurdity and authenticity walk hand in hand - and it’s one audiences are still happy to call home.

Watch Son of a Donkey on Netflix.

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