Barry Castagnola

Barry Castagnola

Over the last few years, Barry has established himself as an extremely accomplished comic performer, writer and actor. As well as performing stand up on the UK and International comedy circuits, he has created, appeared on and written for numerous television projects.

Most recently, as well as appearing on The Comedy Store Live (Paramount),

Barry was a regular on Christian O’Connell’s Sunday Service and film quiz Popcorn (SKYONE) and last year he was seen in Comedy Shuffle (BBC3) and Comedy Cuts (ITV2).

He was also one third of the spoof eco-warrior dance-music act Cyderdelic (with Marc Wootton and Liam Woodman). After two critically acclaimed Edinburgh shows and a stint on The 11O’Clock Show, Cyderdelic won the inaugural BBC2 Green Light Award for comedy, the prize for which was a one-off programme for the channel. This was then developed into a six-part series for BBC3. Cyderdelic: The Revolution Will Be Televised, narrated by the legendary John Peel and broadcast in 2004, is a hilarious combination of jaw-dropping stunts, direct action, merry mischief and character comedy. It quickly achieved cult-status and is still revered by comedy fans.

‘Impressive and hilarious’ (Daily Telegraph)

‘A Tooting popular front for the No Logo generation’ (Sunday Times)

‘Unmissable. The Office meets Greenpeace’ (Zoo)

He was a cast member of the Channel 4 comedy Experimental, ITV’s Oblivious, presented The Yes/No Gameshow on Bravo and has appeared in and written for, numerous other TV shows. He also played one of the lead roles in the British film One Man and His Dog (Razor Edge Films).

In 2007, Barry co-wrote and performed in a multi-media comedy play, The Swingers, at The Edinburgh Fringe (reviews below) with actress/writer Martha Howe-Douglas. They then performed some sketches with characters from the show on BBC3’s Comedy Shuffle and have written a TV pilot script with synopses/plot lines for another 5 episodes. Also in 2007 Barry and Martha had a comedy/drama idea optioned by Hattrick, a script of which was subsequently commissioned by Channel 4.

Stand Up

“A fast-rising talent who specialises in pushing the taste envelope” The Times

“This lucid urban storyteller succeeds mainly because of his amiable everyman persona: slightly middle class, slightly streetwise, but hard to conclusively define. Yet it’s the eloquence of his tales, with their sharp, effective comic imagery, that nails the deal. He’s an assured raconteur with an easy-going, natural and upbeat style that’s hard to fake. A safe bet, that’s for sure.” Chortle.co.uk

Barry has been performing stand-up in the UK and internationally for over 8 years, since blagging his way onto the stage at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His easy-going yet very physical style, mixing personal anecdotes with some sharp topical and political comment, enthuses audiences at all of the major comedy clubs in the UK. As well as being a popular compere, Barry regularly headlines gigs around the country. He has performed in New York, Singapore, Dubai, Oman, Ireland, France, Switzerland, The Melbourne Comedy Festival, Glastonbury and The Reading and Leeds Festivals. TV stand up includes The Comedy Store Live (Paramount), The Stand Up Show (BBC1) and Net.Comedy (Carlton)

In 2007 he took his second solo show Mondeo Man to the Edinburgh Festival after the huge success of his 2004 show, The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest.

Edinburgh 2007 reviews

Mondeo Man

“Barry makes a wonderful companion for an hour. He is a fantastic storyteller and invites you along to the crazy and odd tales that pepper his life, from times travelling to more intimate and personal events. He’s easy to listen to and you are guaranteed to think he’s stopped his show 40 minutes early, because the time just flies by.”

The Fix (One of the 5 picks of the Fringe)

“His blokey charm and willingness to make himself look ridiculous carry him through the trickiest of subject matter. A powerpoint presentation is used throughout to great effect, with some clever aural trickery” Edfest ****

The Swingers

As well as performing his solo show, Barry co-wrote and performed in the hugely successful character-comedy play The Swingers with Martha Howe-Douglas.

“Swingers is a sharply observed unromantic comedy that mixes live action with pre-recorded video sequences. Inhabiting a territory between sitcom and sketch show, Swingers is a hugely entertaining and intelligent piece of character comedy that should arouse the interest of the BBC’s comedy unit.” Metro ****

“This is straight down the line, old-fashioned hilarious…like watching Mike Leigh played for laughs…hysterically funny. This has got fabulous comedy acting, good characterisation and crisp writing. It really could be expanded and deserves an audience beyond the Fringe.” Chortle.co.uk ****

“Film sequences are used to hilarious effect with perfect timing and some brilliant character acting.” The List ****

Edinburgh 2004 Reviews

The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest

‘Perfect’ ***** Three Weeks

“Castagnola has crafted a delightfully enjoyable portrait of himself as a young man…well constructed…so enjoyable” **** Chortle.co.uk

“Such fun… an appealing hour of biographical stand up” The Guardian (Pick of the day)

“A natural anecdote teller… his enjoyable show marks him out as one to watch.” **** The List

“A confident, likeable comic … it’s his self deprecating bemusement at his own diary entries, overblown song lyrics, home videos and vintage possessions that holds this show together and provides the most hilarity” **** Metro

‘A genial performer, he has a gift for self mockery and his youthful indescretions chime easily with an audience’ The Scotsman

‘So confident in the delivery of his material…you’ve got to admire his no-frills approach’ The Stage

TV AND RADIO

COMEDY SHUFFLE (BBC3)

LIVE AT THE COMEDY STORE (PARAMOUNT)

COMEDY CUTS (ITV2)

CHRISTIAN O’CONNELL’S SUNDAY SERVICE (SKYONE)

GLEE TIME (ITV)

POPCORN (SKYONE)

THIS DAY (RADIO 4)

CYDERDELIC (BBC2 / BBC3)

RICH HALL’S CATTLE DRIVE (BBC4)

FRENCH & SAUNDERS (BBC1)

EXPERIMENTAL (CHANNEL 4)

OBLIVIOUS (ITV1)

THE YES/NO GAMESHOW (BRAVO)

THE STAND UP SHOW (BBC1)

THE 11 O’CLOCK SHOW (CHANNEL 4)

EDINBURGH OR BUST (CHANNEL 4)

LOVELY CHRISTMAS MAKEOVERS (BBC3)

COMEDY.NET (CARLTON WORLD)

COMEDY NATION (BBC2)

ALEXEI SAYLE’S YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING (BBC1)

FILM

DOG (RAZOR EDGE FILMS)

COLD (CHARLIE PRODUCTIONS)

THEATRE

THE SWINGERS (EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2007)

SOLO STAND UP SHOWS (EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2004, 2008, MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL 2005)

CYDERDELIC (EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2000, 2001, MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL 2002)