Comic Details

Alistair Barrie

+
Videos

At a corporate gig


More Alistair Barrie videos

At a corporate gig
Alistair Barrie on The World Stands Up
+
Reviews

Alistair Barrie: Happiness - Fringe 2009
Live Review

 rated 4/5

Alistair Barrie hits the ground running and rarely lets up in his fast-paced, wide-ranging romp through some of the biggest subjects of the day.

The spur that inspires him is the recession. And not just that: what bankers as a group have done to the economy, one of them in particular is doing to his ex-girlfriend. It gives an edge to his coruscating, corrosive rant against the greed in the system, and wins him plenty of friends in the audience who already have nothing but contempt for the privileged City boys. Barrie’s explanation of why the markets were ‘overconfident’ certainly sounds more likely that anything Robert Peston has ever come up with.

From there we blast through Barack Obama’s approval rating, his body letting him down as he agges, Muslim fundamentalists, his experiences at other gigs and national traits – all at breakneck speed. It’s a fairly familiar set-list among any club comic, but Barrie injects a freshness into everything, with plenty of short, effective gags, all delivered with infectious verve, bouncing off the audience. Even if the material is sometimes three-star, the performance is always five – and backed with a sharp comedy brain.

Everything is based, to greater or lesser degree, around the attainment of happiness, and what that actually means. The set is peppered with quotations from the great thinkers of the world: Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell and, erm, Arthur Smith. These are a bit poncey, but typically Barrie whips on to the next topic, and next gag, without a moment’s hesitation. His laugh rate is mightily impressive.

Established circuit comics sometimes struggle at the Fringe, trying to cope with the twin demands of both an hour-long set and a different sort of audience – but Barrie has nailed it. Without any tricks or grandiose concepts he has come up with an thoroughly impressive extended stand-up routine, packed full of punchy gags and intelligent opinion, that would work in the clubs as well as it does in Edinburgh.

Another no-frills triumph for the Five Pound Fringe.

Date of live review: Sunday 23rd Aug, '09
Review by Steve Bennett
Breaker Morant
Breaker Morant

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2007 -
Doubled Up
Doubled Up

Show - Misc live shows -
Alistair Barrie: Obviously
Alistair Barrie: Obviously

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2007 -
Alistair Barrie : Original Review
Alistair Barrie : Original Review

Thursday 1st Mar, '01 -
Alistair Barrie: Uncertainty Principle
Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2002 -
Alistair Barrie: Choice
Alistair Barrie: Choice

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2004 -
+
Comments

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3

Saw him in Bristol a couple of days ago and he was excellent. As the review for Happiness says, some great stuff on bankers, and generally a lot of charm. Thoroughly recommended.

Harriet R, September 2009


Very small venue in Englefield Green which he filled with manic and uproarious humour. It was very late and I was tired but boy did he wake me up and entertain me till the end! Furious pace of presentation needed great concentration but all soooo funny.

Joan, July 2009


My favourite, love the fact he can say outrageous things and then just grin audaciously. He makes me laugh until I hurt, a natural.

Dawn Newton, May 2009


Very funny vid, even funnier live.

Jacqui, May 2009


Saw him at York. The man is hilarious!

Rhian, June 2007


Saw him at Reading Festival, as the compere on the last day. He was the best and handled the fact that between every act people would empty out really well, and kept the momentum up, also made up for a shite last act. Liked his style a lot. Go see him.

Ella, August 2006


A man you warm to immediately

Charlotte Castle, February 2006


Saw him at the Comedy Club in Bristol. Very funny, perhaps just a little too much religious material otherwise worth seeing

Keith, January 2006


Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3



Have your say:
:
:
:
 
+
News
+
Where can I see Alistair Barrie next?

Where can I see Alistair Barrie next?

20:00 - Saturday 14th Aug, '10
Venue: Tattershall Castle
Prices: £12 (£10 concs)
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Ian Stone, Karen Bayley (MC)
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
21:45 - Saturday 14th Aug, '10
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: Adult - £15.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, JoJo Smith, Stuart Hudson
Show starts: 21:45 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Saturday 14th Aug, '10
Venue: Leicester Highlight
Prices: £14
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Junior Simpson, Karen Bayley, Phil Walker
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:45~22:00 - Friday 20th Aug, '10
Venue: Big Night Out Covent Gardent
Prices: £16 (from £9.99 in advabce)
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Will Smith, Andrew Roper (MC)
Info: Plus Jeremy O’Donnell
Show starts: 19:45 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
21:00 - Saturday 21st Aug, '10
Venue: Hob
Prices: £9 (£6 concs)
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Rob Hitchmough
Info: Plus Chris Mayo
Show starts: 21:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Thursday 26th Aug, '10
Venue: Lee Hurst's Comedy Club
Prices: £10
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Tommy Campbell
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Friday 27th Aug, '10
Venue: Lee Hurst's Comedy Club
Prices: £10
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Howard Read, Tommy Campbell
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Saturday 28th Aug, '10
Venue: Tattershall Castle
Prices: £12 (£10 concs)
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Mark Maier, David Ward (MC)
Info: Plus Philberto
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Saturday 28th Aug, '10
Venue: Lee Hurst's Comedy Club
Prices: £12.80
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Tommy Campbell
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Thursday 9th Sep, '10
Venue: Comedy Store
Prices: £18
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Alun Cochrane, Jarred Christmas, Paul Thorne, Steve Hall
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Friday 10th Sep, '10
Venue: Comedy Store
Prices: £20
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Jarred Christmas, Paul Thorne, Alun Cochrane (MC)
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
23:55 - Friday 10th Sep, '10
Venue: Comedy Store
Prices: £14
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Alun Cochrane, Jarred Christmas, Paul Thorne
Show starts: 23:55 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
23:55 - Saturday 11th Sep, '10
Venue: Comedy Store
Prices: £18
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Jarred Christmas, Paul Thorne, Alun Cochrane (MC)
Show starts: 23:55 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Saturday 11th Sep, '10
Venue: Comedy Store
Prices: £20
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Jarred Christmas, Paul Thorne, Alun Cochrane (MC)
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Thursday 16th Sep, '10
Venue: Birmingham Glee Club
Prices: Adult - £9.50, Student - £6.50
Comics: Addy Van Der Borgh, Alistair Barrie, Jarred Christmas, Kerry Godliman
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Friday 17th Sep, '10
Venue: Birmingham Glee Club
Prices: Adult - £14.50, Student - £7.50
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Kerry Godliman, Tom Craine
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Saturday 18th Sep, '10
Venue: Birmingham Glee Club
Prices: Adult - £17.50
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Kerry Godliman, Tom Craine
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Friday 24th Sep, '10
Venue: Slug & Lettuce Waterloo
Prices: Adult - £11.00, Student - £6.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Gordon Southern, Milton Jones
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Friday 1st Oct, '10
Venue: Cardiff Glee Club
Prices: Adult - £13.00, Student - £7.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Barry Castagnola, John Gordillo, Sean Collins
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Saturday 2nd Oct, '10
Venue: Cardiff Glee Club
Prices: Adult - £16.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Barry Castagnola, John Gordillo, Sean Collins
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Tuesday 5th Oct, '10
Venue: Manchester XS Malarkey
Prices: £5
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Lou Conran, Steve Shanyaski, Toby Hadoke (MC)
Info: Plus Sean Riley, Dere Mankamley
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Friday 22nd Oct, '10
Venue: Slug & Lettuce Waterloo
Prices: Adult - £11.00, Student - £6.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, James Sherwood, Pete Johansson
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Saturday 23rd Oct, '10
Venue: Crack Comedy Club
Prices: Adult - £11.00, Student - £6.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Erich McElroy, Ninia Benjamin
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Friday 5th Nov, '10
Venue: Nottingham Glee
Prices: Adult - £8.00, Student - £4.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Dave Fulton, Dave Twentyman, Michael Smiley
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:30 - Saturday 6th Nov, '10
Venue: Nottingham Glee
Prices: Adult - £10.00, Student - £4.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Dave Fulton, Dave Twentyman, Michael Smiley
Show starts: 20:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Friday 19th Nov, '10
Venue: Slug & Lettuce Waterloo
Prices: Adult - £11.00, Student - £6.00
Comics: Alistair Barrie, Erich McElroy, Will Smith
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
Alistair Barrie
Alistair Barrie's RSS Feeds

Represented by:
Old Man Management
Hannah Oldman
contact by email
Office: 08702 400 792

Alistair Barrie's Shows:
Edinburgh Fringe 2002
Alistair Barrie: Uncertainty Principle

Edinburgh Fringe 2004
Alistair Barrie: Choice

Edinburgh Fringe 2007
Alistair Barrie: Obviously
Breaker Morant

Edinburgh Fringe 2009
Alistair Barrie: Happiness

Misc live shows
Doubled Up


+
Comic details: