A Toronto show featuring stand-up comics impacted by disabilities is gaining steam — and producers are hoping it reignites conversations around making venues more accessible throughout the city.
Comedians Jared Nathan and Blair Williams are the creators of Laughs Without Limits, a monthly show hosted at Comedy Bar Danforth that emphasizes inclusivity for its performers and audience members alike.
“It’s inclusion — everybody is equal,” Nathan said. “There’s no boundaries and we don’t censor comics. Anything can be funny in the right format.”
Nathan has generated millions of views online thanks to several appearances on the popular U.S. podcast "Kill Tony.” Williams, meanwhile, is newer to the scene and takes on hosting duties at Laughs Without Limits.
The two first met in Kensington Market last year, where they began brainstorming the concept. Since they founded Laughs Without Limits in June, the producer duo have provided more than 20 comedians with the opportunity to hit the stage — some of whom are doing stand-up for the first time. Whether they live with mobility issues, anxiety, epilepsy or Tourette syndrome, comics from all walks of life have been cracking jokes and evoking laughs in the city’s welcoming east-end theatre.
Other comedians in the show may not live with a disability themselves, but their life has been influenced by friends and loved ones who do.
A comical eye on life experiences
Nathan and Williams use their own experiences as fuel for their comedy sets, in their signature authentic style.
“Everyone can relate to laughing at challenging situations,” Nathan said. “We make fun of our childhood and our experiences, but the jokes aren’t just about disabilities either. Family life, alcohol, sexual stuff — nobody walks on eggshells.”
They also said Laughs Without Limits has helped bridge the divide — and clear up a variety of misunderstandings — that exist between those who live with disabilities and those who don’t.
Living with a speech impediment and various cognitive challenges, Nathan told TorontoToday he faced bullying and discrimination.
He recalled one sore memory as a young baseball player where a coach on the opposing team wrongfully said he had down syndrome and that he would be “an easy out” at the plate.
“One of the major obstacles are the assumptions from people who don’t have disabilities,” he said. “Most of the problems I faced growing up are based on how I look. A lot of our challenges come from other people’s ignorance.”
More recently, Williams, who uses mobility devices to get around Toronto, described a situation where it took him 45 minutes to find an accessible restaurant in the Ossington area.
He said many dining experiences in the past have been uncomfortable, with staff making insulting insinuations like, “I don’t think this is a good spot for you,” or “Are you sure you want to eat here?”
“The image of us in a place could be troublesome for people,” he said. “If we dwell on that negativity all the time, it’s going to destroy our life.”
The duo say they have chosen to take a comedic view of their experiences.
“I choose to look at my life through a comical eye,” Williams said. “It’s just a great way to be on the bandwagon about raising awareness for accessibility and inclusion without being in people’s faces. It opens up conversations.”
Lack of accessible comedy venues
Nathan and Williams told TorontoToday that Comedy Bar Danforth is one of the few comedy venues in the country that is “100 per cent barrier free.” No matter their needs, comics can easily access the stage while audiences are able to enter the theatre seamlessly and be seated comfortably. Ramps and elevators on-site — along with accessible washrooms — have made the locale an ideal spot for everyone involved, they said.
Now, the producers want to expand their brand and take the show on the road — but they’re running into roadblocks.
“We’re having one hell of a time trying to find venues that are accessible,” Williams said. “We want people with disabilities in other cities who can’t come to Toronto to see the show, but it’s been challenging. We even tried finding a club in Ottawa — the nation’s capital — and it’s horrible. I can’t find an accessible place there yet.”
In 2005, the province introduced legislation that would make it easier for people with disabilities to participate in their workplaces and communities. Considered groundbreaking at the time, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) aimed to make the province fully accessible by this year.
According to the legislation, the AODA would “develop, implement and enforce standards related to goods, services, facilities, employment, accommodation and buildings” no later than Jan. 1, 2025.
That day has now passed, and the comedians are left scratching their heads at the number of venues that still aren’t following the legislation.
“And it’s not just a Canadian issue — it’s international. Every comic in this community has this hurdle,” Nathan said.
Comedy without boundaries
Since the show’s inception, the stand-up comics at Laughs Without Limits have been well received by the public, according to the show’s creators.
They said comments like, “I never thought about this,” and “I’m glad you could talk about that” have been prevalent, while other event goers with disabilities have been inspired to enter the comedy scene themselves.
“That’s what makes comedy beautiful — because it holds no boundaries,” Nathan said. “It’s about inspiring them and helping them see something in themselves.”
“Comedy Bar Danforth seats 150, and we haven’t filled it yet — but that’s our goal,” Williams added. “We’ve got it to half capacity a couple of times, but we want to get as many people with and without disabilities there as possible.”
Presented by Disability Privilege, Laughs Without Limits runs once a month at The Comedy Bar on Danforth Avenue. The next show is Jan. 20 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door on show night.
