After falling off a ladder at 10, Matthieu Nina wakes up from a coma that changes his life. Today, he takes the stage to mock his journey, raise awareness, and lighten the discussion on disability.
After a ladder fall that marked his childhood, Matthieu Nina uses the stage to transform his journey into a comedic and poignant show. In Bottom of the Ladder, he combines humor and awareness-raising, offering the audience a fresh perspective on disability. The show will take place on November 16, 2024 at the Bobar Comedy Club in Nice at 8:15 PM.
Can you tell us about the accident that changed your life at 10 years old?
“I fell off a ladder onto a concrete floor. I had a head injury. Then, at the hospital, they didn’t take care of me in time. So, in fact, they made me wait too long. I was in a coma for two months. I was 10 years old. I was in a coma for two months. I wasn’t aware of anything. But in any case, when I woke up, I had no idea what had happened.”
What pushed you to get on stage after all these years?
A desire, actually, to make people laugh. Because I’ve always loved making people laugh. And also, perhaps, to raise awareness a little and show a different image of disability. That’s it.
How would you describe the tone and message of your show Bottom of the Ladder?
It’s funny, it’s moving. You learn things. And I think it can interest everyone.
How do you perceive the evolution of society regarding the representation of people with disabilities in the artistic world?
Actually, I think there’s a long way to go. Because there aren’t enough people with disabilities in the art world. Especially on TV, in movies, in series, and even in TV shows. There’s about 12% of the society that consist of people who are disabled in one way or another. In reality, if you look at ARCOM reports, there’s 1% of truly disabled people on screen. So there’s a lot of ground to cover. It’s getting a bit better, particularly thanks to movies like the one by Arthus. But there’s still progress to be made. Progress also needs to be made to make theaters, cinemas, museums, etc., accessible. But if you look at the glass half-full, you’d say that things are starting to move a bit. And if you look at the glass half-empty, I’d say there’s still a lot of work to be done.
What improvements would you like to see in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities, both in the world of entertainment and in daily life?
In the entertainment world, I think it would be great, as I was saying, if there were more people with disabilities playing roles in movies, in series, and being seen on TV, etc. That media representation would better align with that in society in general.
In daily life, it’s very basic, but as for me, for example, I live in Paris. And the Paris public transport is a tremendous hassle for a disabled person, with endless metro corridors, countless stairs, elevators when there are any, which is extremely rare, that are broken. And then people, people need to be more attentive to one another and don’t have to hesitate to offer help. Because when I see disabled people, but also pregnant women, elderly people, or others struggling, for example in the metro stairs, and people just walk by without offering help, it terrifies me a little.
What would you say to artists with disabilities who hesitate to start a career?
I would tell them that if they want to, they should dare. That there’s no shame in it. That anyone can do it. You just have to give yourself the means, believe in it, and never give up.
How does the audience generally react to your show? Are there any feedbacks that have particularly moved you?
Yes, the audience reacts very well. Often at the end, they come to see me and say they really enjoyed it, laughed a lot, it’s very funny, they learn things, it feels good, it’s indeed a show on a subject that, at first, might seem difficult, but the show makes it light, and they have a good time.
And particular feedbacks that have particularly touched me, I would say that every time people take the time to come see me to share their feelings and congratulate me, it always touches me.
Do you think humor can help change people’s perceptions about disability? If so, how?
It’s clear. I think that to change people’s perspectives on disability, we absolutely need to address it this way. It’s the only way to engage and sensitize people. In what way? By showing that perhaps the prejudices people might have aren’t necessarily true. Perhaps by taking a bit more interest in the subject, you discover what struggles disabled individuals may face but also the joys they might have. And thus, by getting interested, you question, you learn, you also enable discussions with your children. It’s a whole collection of these things that will lead to disability being better perceived, better appreciated. And less stigmatized.
Do you have role models or inspirations in the comedy world that have helped you in your journey?
Yes, I have several. I’d say one person with whom I co-wrote this show, Pierre-Emmanuel Barré, is top-notch, very funny, incredibly talented. The other co-writer I wrote this show with, Arsène, is a really great guy, full of humor. There’s also Philippe Le Lievre, thanks to whom I made my first steps in this field. And there’s also another person thanks to whom I played in two plays before, named Franck Loen. My ambitions for now are to continue this show, to keep performing it in Paris and on tour, to make it known, to make it appreciated. After that, we’ll see, depending on opportunities and what comes along.
What are your future ambitions, whether in comedy or other domains?
I’m going to participate in France’s Got Talent. So, I hope it will go well and that the public will enjoy it.”
