From comedy targets to comedy-makers: disability and comedy in live performance

Abstract

The stand-up comedy landscape has been transformed in recent years with an increased number of disabled comedians performing. Using semi-structured interviews with disabled comedians, this article provides a thematic analysis of the material and ideological motives, intentions and lived experiences of disabled comedians. Two themes are discussed: comedy management and control; and affirming disability through comedy. These themes are characterised by complexity and contradictions. The article concludes that, although not a straightforward process, stand-up comedy enacted by disabled comedians is potentially a powerful tool through which hegemonic norms around disability can be challenged and renegotiated.

Keywords:

• disabled comedians
• stand-up comedy
• management and control
• affirming disability

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank all of the interview participants who kindly took part in the research. Grateful thanks to Laurence Clark, Margaret Montgomerie and Simon Weaver for their insightful comments on earlier drafts of this article and to the two anonymous reviewers whose comments were most helpful in refining this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust. The views expressed within this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Trust.