Ross Giblin/Stuff
Dave quickly discovered most Wellington venues are not wheelchair accessible, and often has to be carried up flights of stairs over his father’s shoulder. Batten’s comedy career began in 2016 in Australia, where his family lived for nearly 10 years. He was involved in a disability group which organised a comedy course run by well-known Australian comedian Mandy Nolan. “We had to perform as part of graduating at the Lismore Workers Club, and after that I started getting asked to do sets at various places,” Batten said. As he quickly discovered after moving back to New Zealand, most venues were not wheelchair accessible.