Australian entertainment legend Barry Humphries is heading back to the UK in 2022 with his new show Barry Humphries: The Man Behind The Mask.
The entertainer will step away from his larger than life alter-egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Paterson to take British audiences on a trip through his life and a career that has kept him in the spotlight for over 60 years.
Commenting on the show, Humphries said: “This is a show in which I am the principal character; it’s not Les, it’s not Edna, it’s not Sandy Stone. It is really about this character called ‘me’. I’m not in disguise.
“It is the story of my generation, it is a story of a life spent in the theatre and a life spent in comedy, and it will show what it is like to be a clown. In a way, this is perhaps the bravest thing I’ve ever done, and I hope the most entertaining. I think people might be agreeably shocked and they certainly will learn much they didn’t know…
“I’m rather proud of what I’ve done in my career. It’s constantly surprising, it’s very stimulating and it’s wonderful to look back on, and to look forward to. It’s still going strong, and with a vengeance.”
Describing the show, which will make use of modern technology to ensure Humphries’ solo performance can be interspersed with some very special guest appearances, Humphries added: “Audio-visual technology has made dramatic strides in my life and it’s now possible for me to be on stage with one of my own characters. They may intrude. I might be interrupted,” he hints. “I might even be upstaged!”
Launching at the Nottingham Playhouse from 7 to 9 April 2022, the tour will visit York, Bath, Guildford, Richmond, Eastbourne, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Malvern, Bromley, Cheltenham, Canterbury, Norwich, Buxton, Northampton, Bournemouth and Yeovil. The tour will culminate with two West End performances at the Gielgud Theatre on 29 May and 5 June 2022.
Angela Thomas
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