comedy for change

When we host a political comedy event, the host is specific about the topic and how diverse, progressive and informed views will be presented. Even if we end up living in something that resembles democracy but is really chaos. This page is all about what to expect when CACA comedy is politically charged. We give content warnings, but the emphasis in on creating a safe performance space for expressing robust points of view. We want you to go home armed with a zinger or a funny but pointed story made just for someone you know who has some bigoted thinking. Our hosts are prepared to act if performers or crowds are engaging in unsafe behaviour (intentionally or unintentionally).

NO bad jokes

Sexist, racist, ableist jokes are poorly constructed jokes and boring (and some see them as potentially hate speech). Some people find them funny, but we are not interested. CACA nights are critical and transgressive. For example, you might see a joke about addiction turn into a criticism of how power structures create problem drug usage or how the war on drugs is a vehicle to oppress people and not really about drugs at all. Jokes that play with stereotypes don’t have to be the same as hate speech but can be the reverse, innovative ways to highlight how rubbish racism or sexism or other negative ism’s are. The mocking of systems is encouraged and performers chosen for a spicy lineup to bring this content. If a performer is doing a rubbish job of it, your response of silence or a groan will do the trick, and the host will raise it with them afterwards. Comedians who bomb here are committed to learning and if it’s problematic content the host will rapidly step in and call time.

jokes, not jerks

We have guidelines for if people might try and bring their hate, bigotry or dislike of each other to a night of comedy. We aim to protect people while providing a safe performance space to be transgressive.

We ascribe to the notion that when “punching up”, all bets are off. We are okay with mocking kings and prime ministers, but we are mindful that these criticisms are accurate, however delivered. Don’t expect us to be nice to powerful people exerting unfair policies, we know what honest opinion is.

Some of our comedians have experienced violence and need support, some need less support. We encourage people to practice judgement in this trying time about content that might put them at risk and we will support a safe place for it’s expression however we can.

We do what we can to make everyone feel safe. Unsafe behaviour is not to do with the jokes, good transgressive joke construction and content warnings and show themes should remedy any content concerns. But hosts are prepared to call time on a joke that is clearly demeaning or people deliberately turning up at a public event with the intent to scare or silence a performer or an attendee at a CACA event. We aim to be preventative as much as we can and we have a duty of care to performers and audiences.

Here’s what our approach to people who bring deliberately unsafe behaviour to an event looks like…

CACA does not ban or sanction attendance at events unless the following is brought to the host’s attention:

a.  There is clearly unsafe behaviour by anyone at a CACA event that other people present can identify clearly.  

b.  There is a court order or legal instrument that orders any person a safe distance away from a performer or audience member.

c.  A performer raises clear safety concerns with someone’s attendance at a CACA event. We will then politely ask that person to leave.

d.  Before an event, any safety concern being raised by a CACA performer against another performer or someone attending an event, the Chair of CACA will conduct basic safety planning with the performer affected. This may or may not include strategies like banning an individual from a specific performance and using available venue/policy support where necessary should that person attend.  This planning is done with the person who is impacted (in confidence) and is based upon what they need or want from the process.  If the issues are complex, this is referred to an appropriate agency for support.

e.  In the event of unsafe behaviour that is brought to the host’s attention; CACA hosts use the mechanisms available to them to have that person asked to leave.  The event may be halted until they leave if the behaviour warrants that approach. If reasonable attempts to get them to leave fail, the matter is escalated to police presence, as carefully and discreetly as possible keeping group safety in mind.

f.  CACA membership applications from people with a known court order, legal instrument or police history against them to the detriment of another member will not be accepted. 

g.  CACA members found to have a court order or police history relating to another member’s detriment as raised by an impacted member, will result in the exclusion of the offending member from CACA membership.  

h.  The CACA Chairperson commits to documenting and providing information about any legal proceeding where people have experienced harm due to the conduct of someone at a CACA event. They are prepared to follow up with relevant authorities when it is requested by an impacted party.

i.  CACA proceedings about the personal safety of any party are kept confidential, except where the law requires otherwise. 

j.  CACA membership is not a conflict resolution service.  However, where the code of conduct and rules are not abided by the committee will ban or sanction memberships as appropriate in the interests of the group’s safety. People will be afforded the right to appeal, but if there isn’t internal capacity to support an appeals process, they will be directed to an external service.

k.  CACA shares online content from performers, only with their expression permission and what they are prepared to share publicly. Any request to remove content at any time will be honoured.

l.  CACA ensures the confidentiality of any personal information shared with hosts and committee members. The only limitation to this confidentiality is if there is concern a criminal act is about to take place to protect others from harm.

m.  CACA has a unilateral approach, critiques of government policy are multi-lateral and no political party is off limits.

WE want to create a space for dialogue about how comedy can be politically charged and safely trangressive. this is the CACA commitment.