Review: Laurence Clark: Inspired, Underbelly Bristo Square (Venue 300)

All his life Laurence Clark has been told he’s inspiring. And he’s absolutely sick of it. Just because he has cerebral palsy, his tiniest achievements are elevated in the estimation of good-natured but patronising people who frustrate him with their low expectations.

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Why, he asks the audience is his bungee jump any braver than anyone else’s? With his customary mischief, Clark set out to highlight the problem by taking to the streets of London and shooting a couple of hidden camera stunts. He tells the able-bodied that they’re “inspiring” for accomplishing the most mundane tasks. Then, in a remarkable display of how disabled people can be made to feel invisible, he finds he can’t give away free snacks when someone else is doing the same next to him but talking in gobbledegook. An effective demonstration, he’s not above exploiting his bugbear and stealing some namesakes’ achievements for his own, exposing how much licence he’s belittlingly gifted.

Spiking his presentation with some sly gags, Clark is probably wrong to claim that no-one’s ever been inspired by Paris Hilton. That apart, he reaches some well-argued, provocative conclusions about inspiration and where to look for it.

Until 27 August. Today 5:20pm.

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