Barry Ferns: Sociable Climber?

If you ever wonder why certain acts seem to embark on weird and wonderful stunts at every Edinburgh Fringe, Barry Ferns may have the answer. Brain blinkers. "I have a complete inability to see the consequences of my actions," he says. "So I land myself in situations."

The fabulously-haired Ferns is a responsible venue owner down south these days, but his Fringe wheezes continue. His longest-running event is a show on Edinburgh’s own mountain, Arthur’s Seat; venue number 354. Ferns hosts one show atop it every August—this year on the 18th—but in 2012 and 2013 he did one every day.

"Those were extraordinary,” he says. "David Hasselhoff was in the audience one day. Another time it was rainy, misty, but I went up, set up the PA, and one guy showed up – a reviewer. Then these two Japanese tourists came out of the mist, like something from a horror film, and said, 'Could you direct us to the Royal Mile?' She was in a summer dress, he was in a zoot suit. We pointed them in the general direction."

Sociable climbing, you might call that, and Ferns’ burgeoning 'why not?' approach was in evidence on his very first Fringe visit. The comedy-obsessed teenager bumped into Bill Bailey, Jeff Green, Sean Lock and Frank Skinner, and invited himself along for dinner. "I could only afford the hummus starter," he recalls. "When I went to the toilet they must have all said, 'Who is that guy?'"

But he was soon gigging too, with the duo Doreen, whose 2001 show involved "standing in the Pleasance Courtyard every day with a sandwich board that said, 'I am sorry'." In 2004 he staged a sketch show starring OAPs, then the mountain gigs began in 2007, the year he legally changed his name to Lionel Richie (long story).

That dedication was rewarded in 2013, when Ferns won a Malcolm Hardee award for a now infamous stunt: printing 2,000 fake versions of festival freesheets, complete with rave reviews for his show. Such happenings are more Fringe-spirited than reviews, he reckons. "Edinburgh, it does feel like running away to the circus."

Indeed, he’s recreating that communal feel back home in London now: the aforementioned venue is a dedicated comedy hub, The Bill Murray. Ferns—a fine comic and MC himself—could be its sinister cult guru, with his messianic hair, and particularly given the title of his new hour: Barry Loves You. Actually the show "tries to get to the bottom of what love is", he explains. "Part of me feels that love gets a bad press."

That happens every night down in the Tron basement, which is rather different from his other Edinburgh venue. So what exactly is the capacity on Arthur’s Seat? "20 seated," he says. "Or a million standing."

Spirits of the Fringe

Ken, Pleasance Dome, 1–27 Aug, not 13, 20, 3:20pm

It's hard to summarise the impact of Ken Campbell on British theatre, and on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. An original and mischevious experimentalist, Campbell left many marks. This show by Terry Johnson pays homage, and tries to revive some of the anarchic spirit of a theatrical great.

A Joke, Assembly Rooms, 2–26 Aug, not 8, 14, 21, 4:25pm

On which note, one of Campbell's most notorious vehicles was the oddball Ken Campbell Roadshow – part theatre, part circus, part freakshow. One of those freaks was Sylveste McCoy, now more familiar as Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Dr Who. He performs in A Joke, a satirical play with an Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman setup.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Pleasance Courtyard, 1–26 Aug, not 14, times vary

If you see one improvised show this year, make it this long-running powerhouse. Started by two of Campbell's co-conspirators on The School of Night (Shakespeare-themed improv; totally bonkers), Adam Meggido and Dylan Emery, the show is a bona fide Fringe stalwart. The show is now in its 11th year, and the flame is kept burning brightly by the co-founders, as well as some of the best improvisers around – the wonderful Pippa Evans being one.