Michele A'Court

Biography

Winner of “Female Comedian of the Decade” at the 2010 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, Michele A’Court is a fulltime professional stand-up comedian and freelance writer.

Her work turns up everywhere - on stage, television, radio, and on the page - and she is in demand as a comic, and also as a social commentator across all media.

Michele has a weekly spot reviewing the news on TVNZ’s Good Morning show; she is a regular guest on TV3’s award-winning comedy show, 7 Days; on Radio NZ National’s The Panel with Jim Mora; and 9 to Noon with Kathryn Ryan and Te Radar. Michele also reviews books for Radio NZ National and the NZ Listener.

Michele writes a weekly column for the Christchurch Press and relishes the opportunity to write on current social issues. She is also a frequent contributor to several national NZ magazines including Next and Her Business; and she has a regular column for the bi-monthly In-Business magazine.

As an after-dinner speaker, event host and conference MC, Michele’s hundreds of corporate clients over the past 15 years include financial advisors, health care workers, classical musicians, IT specialists, plumbers, insurance specialists, bankers, builders, lawyers, electrical workers, travel agents and scientists.

Michele first came to NZ’s attention more than 20 years ago as the award-winning host of What Now, the children’s TV show which aired live for two hours each week, and The Video Dispatch, a current affairs programme aimed at youth but, according to legend, was the “must-see TV show” for NZ’s politicians.

Her international experience as a stand-up comedian includes shows in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Melbourne, Adelaide, Vancouver and NZ. Michele also performed for the international troops in East Timor back in 2001.

Michele has a raft of awards from various comedy festivals. And as a veteran of NZ’s comedy industry, she is an artistic assessor for the national funding body, Creative NZ, and is a judge for the annual Billy T Comedy Award for up-and-coming comedians.

Topics

• Comic entertainment
• Female stand up comedian

Testimonials

“The evening was wrapped up by Michele A'Court - a true comedy diva... In an international comedy competition she has my vote for NZ's representative.” – Joanna Davies, reviewing “Divas” at Sky City in “Theatreview” 2009. 

 “The show is hosted by Michele A'Court. She is an intelligent, engaged and observant stand-up comedian with some wry gags… You get the feeling she could pump out an amusing opinion on anything if you gave her five minutes and a microphone. That's no small talent.” – Sumner Stand-Up reviewed in the Christchurch Press 2010.

“Michele A'Court is the one with the most to say social satire-wise... A lovely combination of ruthless and loving.”  – John Smythe, reviewing “The Lady Bunch” at Bats Theatre in “Theatreview” 2008.

"French and Saunders all rolled into one… cajoling the audience along on a journey, combined with biting wit and sarcasm…" – Dominion Post

“Our hostess Michele A'Court is an entertaining mixture of composure and nuttiness. In between acts, she gives a cross-section of her various dislikes, letting rip her spring-loaded, 'middle-aged' rancour without apology. Michele sets the tone for a warm, friendly atmosphere and plenty of audience involvement.”  – Sian Robertson, reviewing “Best Medicine Stand Up Comedy Review” at Hawkins Theatre in “Theatreview” 2009.

“Michele A’Court was the mistress of ceremony, a highly skilled and immensely talented comedienne. She also took a part in the monologues and showed her range as an actor of substance.” – “The Vagina Monologues” at the Hawkes Bay Opera House, reviewed 2008.

"['Heritage 101' is] a quasi-comedic dissertation-cum-survey on being a Pakeha New Zealander… It brings refreshing substance, as well as wit, to the festival." – National Business Review 2005
"Relaxed and articulate award-winning comedian Michele A'Court brings an earthy perceptiveness to Robyn [Mum's The Word]… Her wartime rural grandmother's story is as compelling as her insightful observations are funny." – National Business Review 2003

"Right on the button… truly insightful… What more could you ask for?" – Capital Times

“Tight, taut, and very, very funny.” - Bay of Plenty Times

"Effortless style…" - Dominion Post

“Sassy... confident... snide... outrageous and probably libellous...”- NZ Herald

"The humour is modern, urbane, intelligent, inventive and irreverent – reminiscent of the best television humour in the days before satire was turned into homogenised, disarmed filling for the gaps between commercials… the pace, the timing, the variety, the polish and cheerful iconoclasm that make an evening of good comedy." – Otago Daily Times

“Comedy that packed a punch... One of the top shows of the Fringe.”- Capital Times

“Finally, a show that lives up to its publicity... Talented performer... perceptive student of the human condition.”- Daily Telegraph

“Hits the ground running a comical gauntlet of innuendo and punchy improvising that quickly builds a rapport with the audience.” - Dominion

“Has personality to burn...” - Capital Times

“Masterful... Willingness to tackle controversial political issues with confidence and flair... Seasoned and talented professional... What a good stand-up show should do.” - Salient