2015 Edinburgh Fringe

Jack Barry answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

Jack Barry

Jack Barry bought a football team and called it Jack Barry St Germain. That's one of the stories in his show.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

I first started performing comedy at university when I auditioned for and got into the Leeds Tealights sketch comedy group in 2010 (I wasn't clever enough to go to Cambridge and join the Footlights). When I graduated four years ago I started doing stand-up on the circuit and have continued since then. In 2013 and 2014 I was selected to be part of the prestigious Comedy Reserve and Comedy Zone showcases at the Edinburgh Fringe and I've supported Fosters Award nominee James Acaster on 3 UK tours.

I will never be happy with how everything is going, the first thing I discovered after starting comedy is that as soon as you reach one goal the next ones jump up before you and they seem much harder to achieve. I don't think anyone's ever truly happy with where they're at, that's just the nature of the beast.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

An aspiring yet friendly comedian with an interesting day job talks to you about it and his views on the state we're in.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

I can't help but love it. I've always wanted to be comedian and Edinburgh is the best way to spunk away all your money basically playing pretend that you're a real comedian, it's my favourite game.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

This year I made the, possibly misguided, decision to purchase a football team. My friends play in the Hackney Sunday league and needed a sponsor, so I said I would sponsor them as long as I could make all the decisions about the club. £300 later they're now called Jack Barry St Germain. The badge on the shirts is my face and instead of names on the back they have my Twitter handle, @JBazzler. I had almost certainly had too much beer and curry when the decision was made. Here's a video about it.

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

The fact that I spent £300 on a football team should tell you that I'm not exactly fiscally responsible, so I genuinely have no idea. I'm just going to cross my balls and hope for the best.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Last year, during one of my shows, a punter stood up half way through and yelled "this is shite" before storming out. We thought it was odd because the show had been going well, then we discovered that he had actually stolen someone's bag and had been trying to cover his escape by drawing as much attention to himself as possible.

Jack Barry

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

I can't wait to see Twins this year. They're this amazing sketch double act who always come up with brilliant stuff.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

There are two answers for this, I suppose. In one scenario I'd like to book all my friends so we could hang out and have a great time. Mae Martin, Lolly Adefope, Adam Hess, Mat Ewins, Fin Taylor, Ellie White, Natasia Demetriou, Lou Sanders, Sheeps, David Elms, Patrick Turpin, Annie McGrath, to name just a couple (I'm missing out loads).

The other scenario would be all my heroes, dead and alive. Louis CK, Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, etc.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

I'd hate to bump into Hitler because I hate to be rude so would probably end up being very polite to him out of social awkwardness, which would not be good for my confidence.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

I have a crippling desire to please everyone and genuinely hate the thought of anyone spending any time in my company and not having a nice time. I will bend over backwards to make everyone happy, even if it means doing something that is nothing at all to do with the show.

'Jack Barry: This Title Came to Me in a Dream' is at 7pm at Pleasance Courtyard on 5-31 August. Listing

Published: Monday 3rd August 2015

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