'Paved the way': Kiwi comedian on Dame Jools Topp's legacy

A New Zealand comedian says Dame Jools Topp paved the way for generations of performers who followed the Topp Twins onto local stages and screens.

The Topp Twins built a career that blended country music, character comedy and unapologetic activism, reaching audiences well beyond the usual boundaries of any one of those worlds.

Their work made room for performers who did not fit a narrow template, and for material that dealt with land, identity, sexuality and rural New Zealand life without asking permission.

Tributes have highlighted both the craft and the courage: decades of touring, characters that became household names, and a willingness to take positions that were not always popular at the time.

For younger comedians, the legacy is practical as much as sentimental. The path they walk was cleared by performers who insisted there was an audience for it.