EdFringe Talk: Barry Ferns: My Seven Years as Lionel Richie

Posted in *EdFestivals 2025, *Written Interviews by

“I first came in 1995 as a child when I was in the competition “So you Think you’re Funny. I didn’t with the competition – a man called “Lee Mack” did. I wonder what happened to him?”

WHO: Tamsin Hurtado Clarke & Scarlett Plouviez: Performer & Director

WHAT: “A new show from Barry Ferns about being a stand-up comedian since the age of 15, the Edinburgh Fringe, going from being homeless to being offered half a million pounds as a TV presenter and living seven years of your life as the Grammy award-winning artist, Lionel Richie. Nominated for Best New Show at Leicester Comedy Festival, 2025. ‘A marvelous, personal, beautifully constructed and laughter-packed hour’ ***** (ThreeWeeks). **** (Scotsman). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Unnecessarily Sadistic’ * (Chortle.co.uk).”

WHERE: Just Out Of The Box at Just the Tonic at The Caves (Venue 88) 

WHEN: 18:40 (60 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my 20th time at the Fringe – I first came in 1995 as a child when I was in the competition “So you Think you’re Funny. I didn’t with the competition – a man called “Lee Mack” did.

I wonder what happened to him?

I maik joak of course.

Of the two of us – One of us is a multi millionaire comedy superstar – and one of us is me.

I’ve onlyt ever been up as a “punter:” along when I was 15, 16, 17 adn 18, all the other time I’ve been a performer. But I remember being wow-ed the non-stop-crazyness, of what all these people were doing with their lives. It was so inspiring. It felt like running away to the circus for a week.

A human circus.

Where the animals treat themselves badly.

Of course with so many shows and performances, there is so much on offer that you stop being able to appreciate it any more. Edinburgh is the few places you’ll hear the line “Oh, not ANOTHER sword swallowing Mexican”

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

2024 was a great year for me, and led to this show!

I worked closely with a storyteller called Debs Newbold and it was like going back to performer-school again.

I am also going to much more theatre and music gigs in teh fringe as some of those were highlights last year (Though not Oasis)

I believe more than ever that you should follow your dreams. Of course experts would say, no, don’t follow your dreams. Dreams are expressions of your subconscious, so that is dangerous psychotic behavior. If you follow your dreams you’re insane. My last dream involved hanging outside post offices untying tethered dogs and putting them in taxis. So fair point.

The caution about Edinburgh Festival, is you often only hear about the successes – The Eddie Izzards. History IS written by the winners

(Okay, well I guess it’s written by Historians. And they’re rarely winners. At least not socially. Though of course history won’t record that. 200 years from now academics will be saying “Yes, and apparently Historians were the sex gods of the 21st century”)

So in short – no, I prbably haven’t absorbed the important lessons….

Tell us about your show.

My Show! I am producing it, and I wrote it. I have acting friends who look at Stand Up Comedians and think we are mad for writing and putting on our own shows.

I did take it to another festival this year too – The Leicester Comedy Festival and got nominate for “Best New Show” which was a great delight.

Oh and I really recommend Hastings Comedy Festival too – it’s always great and the organisers Jake and Chris care so much about comedy.

If the festival goes well I hope to take it to Australia in 2026

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

My HOT TIP is Thor Stenhaug. I’ve known him since his first gigs and his show is the funniest I’ve seen this year and he’s worked incredibly hard on it. Really meaningful, moving, funny and charming.

I also recommend Alasdair Beckett King. I’ve done shows with him in the past but his solo shows are enviously well written and enjoyable.

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