Spirit of the Festival 2008 - NZ International Comedy Festival
Best Female Comedian 2007 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Female Comedian 2006 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Female Comedian 2005 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Show Concept 2005 – for "Heritage 101", NZ International Comedy Festival
Best Female Comedian 2004 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Female Comedian 2003 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Industry Friend 2003 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Female Comedian 2002 – NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Laugh! Festival Show 2002 – "If You Want Me I'll Be In The Bar", NZ Comedy Guild Awards
Best Female Comedian 1997 - Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards
Travel Writing Award 1995 - Cathay Pacific Media Travel Awards
Special Recognition Award 1991 - for Excellence in Presentation from the ITVA (NZ) “Choice Not Chance” video on contraception produced for secondary schools (and still in use).
Best Children’s Programme Award 1989 – LIFTA for What Now?
Six-time winner of the NZ Comedy Guild's Best Female Comedian Award, Michele A'Court has forged a successful career as a stand-up comedian, corporate entertainer, actor, voice artist and writer.
Whether it's on stage, television, radio, or on the page, Michele has an ability to find just the right way to reach her audience. She is in demand as a performer and a social commentator across all media.
Michele is the Lead Columnist for "Your Weekend" magazine and relishes the opportunity to write each week on current social issues. She's a regular guest on TV3's current affairs comedy show, "7 Days"; on Radio NZ National's "The Panel" with Jim Mora; and "9 to Noon" with Kathryn Ryan and Te Radar. Michele also reviews books for Radio NZ National and the NZ Listener.
Michele has a recurring role on "Shortland St" as Helen Carson, the humourless head of the DHB. And she's the voice of Mary-Jane Staines on TVNZ's animated children's series, "Staines Down Drains".
As an after-dinner speaker, event host and conference MC, Michele's hundreds of corporate clients for more than a decade include accountants, health care workers, IT specialists, plumbers, insurance specialists, builders, teachers, lawyers, electrical workers, travel agents and scientists.
Michele first came to NZ's attention more than 20 years ago as the award-winning host of What Now?, a children's TV show which went live-to-air for two hours each week, and The Video Dispatch, a live current affairs programme aimed at youth but, according to legend, was the "must-see TV show" for NZ's politicians.
Her international experience as a stand-up comedian includes shows at comedy festivals in Edinburgh, Melbourne, Adelaide, Coff's Harbour and throughout NZ - shows which have dealt with the war on terror, national and international politics, life, love and laughter. Michele travelled to East Timor to entertain the troops back in 2001 and very much enjoyed the experience of performing for an audience that was heavily armed.
As a veteran of the industry, Michele is a funding assessor for Creative New Zealand's Theatre Panel. She is also a judge for the Billy T. Award - the annual, pre-eminent award for NZ comedy.
"The evening was wrapped up by Michele A'Court - a true comedy diva... In an international comedy competition she has my vote for NZ's representative." - Joanna Davies, reviewing "Divas" at Sky City in "Theatreview" 2009.
"The show is hosted by Michele A'Court. She is an intelligent, engaged and observant stand-up comedian with some wry gags… You get the feeling she could pump out an amusing opinion on anything if you gave her five minutes and a microphone. That's no small talent." - Sumner Stand-Up reviewed in the Christchurch Press 2010.
"Michele A'Court is the one with the most to say social satire-wise... A lovely combination of ruthless and loving." - John Smythe, reviewing "The Lady Bunch" at Bats Theatre in "Theatreview" 2008.
"French and Saunders all rolled into one… cajoling the audience along on a journey, combined with biting wit and sarcasm…" - Dominion Post
"Our hostess Michele A'Court is an entertaining mixture of composure and nuttiness. In between acts, she gives a cross-section of her various dislikes, letting rip her spring-loaded, 'middle-aged' rancour without apology. Michele sets the tone for a warm, friendly atmosphere and plenty of audience involvement." - Sian Robertson, reviewing "Best Medicine Stand Up Comedy Review" at Hawkins Theatre in "Theatreview" 2009.
"Michele A'Court was the mistress of ceremony, a highly skilled and immensely talented comedienne. She also took a part in the monologues and showed her range as an actor of substance." - "The Vagina Monologues" at the Hawkes Bay Opera House, reviewed 2008.
"['Heritage 101' is] a quasi-comedic dissertation-cum-survey on being a Pakeha New Zealander… It brings refreshing substance, as well as wit, to the festival." - National Business Review 2005
"Relaxed and articulate award-winning comedian Michele A'Court brings an earthy perceptiveness to Robyn [Mum's The Word]… Her wartime rural grandmother's story is as compelling as her insightful observations are funny." - National Business Review 2003
"Right on the button… truly insightful… What more could you ask for?" - Capital Times
"Tight, taut, and very, very funny." - Bay of Plenty Times
"Effortless style…" - Dominion Post
"Sassy... confident... snide... outrageous and probably libellous..."- NZ Herald
"The humour is modern, urbane, intelligent, inventive and irreverent - reminiscent of the best television humour in the days before satire was turned into homogenised, disarmed filling for the gaps between commercials… the pace, the timing, the variety, the polish and cheerful iconoclasm that make an evening of good comedy." - Otago Daily Times
"Comedy that packed a punch... One of the top shows of the Fringe."- Capital Times
"Finally, a show that lives up to its publicity... Talented performer... perceptive student of the human condition."- Daily Telegraph
"Hits the ground running a comical gauntlet of innuendo and punchy improvising that quickly builds a rapport with the audience." - Dominion
"Has personality to burn..." - Capital Times
"Masterful... Willingness to tackle controversial political issues with confidence and flair... Seasoned and talented professional... What a good stand-up show should do." - Salient
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