Laurence Clark: the 'sit-down' comic fighting for the right to the good life

The actor and his wife Adele both have cerebral palsy, but this does not prevent them from raising two children while campaigning for disability rights

When Laurence Clark tells people who is an actor, you receive one of two reactions. "Anyone taking my act will be a story worthy of triumph over tragedy," he says. "Or they will use" inspiration "of the word. I" inspired "a lot".

Clark is not your average up. Indeed, it has been described as "a comic-slow" as is done in a wheelchair and uses her experiences living with cerebral palsy as a material. Next month, is touring his show,

Health risks

he describes as "a mission of a man to sell the benefits of free medical care . "And in case anyone is confused by its modes of expression clumsy, Clark was able to open his act with words." No, I'm not angry "

If some audiences may find it uncomfortable, sorry Clark. "All the comics are based on their own experience - which is work," he said, when we met at Bar Soho Theatre in London. "Nobody told Jo Brand, do not eat a cake or things of being a woman. "

Clark, 38, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. Does not interfere with nerve signals to muscles, which often leads to complications develop in the uterus that leads to problems with posture, movement and coordination.

After a long period during which she suffered from a lack of oxygen, doctors warned his mother that he would probably have learning difficulties and be unable to s' care of itself. "I actually used" vegetables "in the word" he said.

At school, despite being interested in the drama, which was advised by the office of career to enter. "Computers are like basket weaving," Clark said, dryly. "It's a job today stereotypical disability because you can make you feel." He ended up getting a Ph.D. in computer science and biology . But he found the work boring and began writing comedy scripts. Soon it was done: "I thought it was the only way to get my stuff heard."

His appearance at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival was the first of six acclaimed performances here and happening now Clark 100 nights a year in comedy clubs across the country. Has won an order for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad - the comedian just to make it

Has it ever been interrupted? "I can only remember one time and it was just a button on the bottom, an insult."

But not only as an actor that Clark is trying to challenge our notion of what disabled people can or can not do. He and his wife, Adele, 34, who also has cerebral palsy, are parents of two healthy children: Tom, eight, nine months and James. As a couple, they refuse to be defined by their disability in a society that is still scandalously used to see prospective parents with disabilities in achieving independent living.

• When Adela was pregnant with Tom, she recalls going to the pharmacy in his hometown of Liverpool to buy folic acid tablets, and looked up and down the pocket. "She said," I do not think that people like you could have babies, "said Adela." I could write a book about all the times people say things like that for me. "
• The history of
• 'Clarks appears in a documentary tonight on TF1 as part of the season beyond the disability, a series that looks at our attitudes towards people with disabilities in the 21st century. In

not reduce the baby

, narrated by David Tennant, the Clarks are presented juggle their lives around caring for their children in much the same way than any other family. Your home is tailored to its needs (with wheelchair access and key fobs) and rely on the help of grandparents and "personal assistants" that directly depend on their care budget, which is provided by the State .

"Caregivers do not say that because it involves something you are doing so instead of something that is in control," said Lorenzo. The recent government cuts have not done that this way of life easier. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to get funding for independent living, but at the same time, people are in retirement and disability benefits being told to leave and find work.

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