Barry Ferns talks about bringing his show BARRY LOVES YOU to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Name: Barry Ferns
Name of Edinburgh show: Barry Loves You
Venue: The Tron
Performance time: 9pm
Show length: 55 minutes
Ticket price: £5

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
I started performing when I was 15 years old. I first came to the Edinburgh festival when a promoter called Melanie Miller drove me up, so that I could take part in the competition “So You Think You’re Funny” Part of the festival that year for me was figuring out how to get back home to Dorset without my parents finding out I was in Scotland.

Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
My show is about Love in it’s intention. Love make you feel alive, awake, connected and hopeful. This show will do the same. Like love, it’s complicated and often misrepresented. And like love, you will never forget it once you’ve seen it live.*

*Unlike real love there is not the opportunity to progress onto sexual intercourse.

How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
I have been working on this show for 2.5 years because I am a slow writer and have spent a lot of the last 2.5 year starting a comedy club in London called “the Bill Murray” that has taken a lot of time and energy

Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
Climb Arthurs Seat once, just to give you a perspective. Within 30 minutes you are looking back on the festival far below, from a rocky extinct volvano. It’s a great way to keep and get your sanilty.

What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
At a random suggestion, a male stripper (who was just an audience member) was corralled by the audience into stripping on stage. They jumped up eagerly. The crowd went mental.

Then they decided that I should strip too and wouldn’t let me leave the stage until they’d seen some Barry Flesh. Urgh.

Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
Anyone who can see beyond their own success. The performers who see themselves as lucky to have made it and try to help other people by either offering support or finding a way to give new acts a chance. Anyone kind. Kindness is so inspirational.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I look at the crowd before I go on stage and see who I would like to be friends with, and who seems nice or interesting. It’s important to see a crowd as individuals, not just “the crowd”

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
Paul Foot, Tony Law, and Ben Target. They are interesting and absolutely different acts. I can enjoy them because I’ve no idea what they will say next.

Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
Because they will enjoy it. And also with the dizzying amount of shows at the Festival, you’ll never choose the “right” show. So the best thing to go to is one that’s caught your eye. And if you’re reading this right now, it’s caught your eye!

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