Interview Barry Cryer
Simon O'Hare speaks to the comedy legend supporting the City Varieties fundraising effort
Interview: Barry Cryer
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“It was a complete accident, me in showbusiness – a complete accident,” says comedy veteran Barry Cryer, speaking exclusively to the Leeds Guide. Cryer is in town to support the launch of a major new fundraising campaign for the refurbishment of the City Varieties theatre on Swan Street, a Grade II listed building with national significance. Back in the late 19th century more than 300 such music halls existed nationwide, but today just three remain, and the City Varieties is by far the best preserved.
Cryer’s long career started out at the City Varieties, which explains why he’s delighted to be supporting the cause. “A guy came up to Leeds to see somebody in a student show, not me, and he saw me at the old Empire Theatre in Briggate, and off we were. And the Joseph brothers, Stanley and Michael, at the same time offered me a week at the City Varieties, and suddenly I was in showbusiness. I’ve been dogged by good luck all my life!”
Cryer was born in Leeds (“in ‘are’ills – my wife says ‘Harehills’, she’s from Brighton – I say ‘are’ills’!”) but reluctantly made his way south to further his career, where he met his future wife and settled down, but he has retained a strong fondness for the city.
“I went south years ago, there was no work in Leeds – I didn’t wanna leave. And then you marry a girl from Brighton and… it’s like a warm bath coming back here, I feel it every time I come back. You feel it when you come back.”
How would he feel if he was just starting out his career today? “I’m glad I’m not,” he quickly responds, “it’s so competitive, it’s harder now – I really feel for them now. Everywhere you go there’s a stand-up.” What about the quality of today’s comedians? “Terrific. I hate people of my age who knock the young ones – I say you must get out more. Ross Noble, bless his heart, Ross mentioned me on Jonathan Ross’s TV show on Friday night. I’ve worked with Ross, I know him. You know, I could be his father for Christ’s sake, or his grandfather, but there’s no difference, there are talented people in every generation.”
Now aged 75, Cryer is certainly at the twilight of his career – has he not considered packing it all in and putting his feet up? “We don’t retire in my business; the phone stops ringing,” he says. “No, I enjoy what I do. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it.” But has he lost some of his love for performing over the years? “No, it’s what I do, and I think it’s rather a nice way of earning a living. Particularly in shitty times, if you give people a laugh for an hour or two… it’s a nice way of earning a living.”
Anyone wishing to contribute to the campaign to revitalise this important cultural building can call 0113 391 7777, visit www.cityvarieties.co.uk or donate by post to City Varieties Music Hall, Fundraising HQ, 24 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7JL
Posted on Wednesday 9th June 2010
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