Walk into The Forest Inn in Westover on a Friday evening, and chances are you'll hear southern rock emanating from the jukebox in the corner, two friendly
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Comedian Michele A Court apologised for a joke that unintentionally caused offence. (File photo) But 10 days later, a Twitter user reposted the clip, calling it a disgusting, bad-taste disability joke. Replies called it “gutter level entertainment” and said A’Court should be ashamed of herself. ”I apologise, and will do better,” A’Court responded. One parent of a 6-year-old with autism summed up the problem: “I get the satire, really I do, but it clearly has no place in 2021.” So what does have a place in comedy in 2021? Fellow comedian Te Radar calls A’Court one of the nicest, most socially aware comedians in New Zealand. If even she can be called out as disgusting, how do comics navigate a world of heightened sensitivities? And has the rapid evolution of what’s acceptable made comedy boring, or better?
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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.
Monday, 15 February 2021, 8:58 am
Wellington comic
Dave Batten will get to
celebrate his 30th birthday in true style, rolling in to
headline a star-studded line-up at Petone Club thanks to a
brand-new portable wheelchair ramp on Friday 19th
March.
Dave, who has athetoid cerebral palsy,
describes himself as more of a sit-down than stand-up
comedian, more than happy to make light of the things that
set him apart. Providing a big source of inspiration for his
comedy, Dave’s cerebral palsy requires him to use a
motorised wheelchair full time to get out and about. Until
recently, the biggest barrier to Dave’s career has been