A Tribute to Barry Cryer
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Leeds Heritage Theatres is incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of our dear friend, Barry Cryer, whose ‘first paid job’ was on our City Varieties stage.
Written by Ellen Carnazza and Bryony Jameson.
From the very start of his career and his “first paid job” on our stage in 1956, to becoming a The Good Old Days favourite. Barry has been a familiar and friendly face, continuing to tread the boards here throughout his career.
His support for the venue over the years included hosting our Regeneration fundraising launch event in 2009 with Paul Merton. For our 150th birthday in 2015, he wrote this beautiful and treasured ‘Ode to The City Varieties’ poem.
We will miss you Barry. Thank you for the laughter.
Ode To The City Varieties (So Much)
I hail, without fail, The City Varieties
While observing all the properties
My reaction is emotional – to me
The CV is a joyful part of my CV
My first paid job in 1956
A tough call it is true, and the memory sticks
Of my mother coming to see me –
I waited for her advice
Her only comment: “The suit looked nice”.
The Good Old Days and Chairman Leonard Sachs
The consummate host – your poet now racks
His memory – Leonard sitting there –
Throughout the show
His chair was commodious, I’ll have you know
Bernard Cribbins and the laughs we had
In our double act.
And on my own – this is a fact
Masquerading as a Scot in kilt and tam o’shanter
Oh the memories, oh, the banter
And now the dear place is 150 years old
Makes me feel young – my tale is told
I’m not with you today, alack, alas
So here in St Albans, I raise a glass
Not before time, I now retire
I greet you, toast you, thank you, Barry Cryer.
Barry Cryer’s first ever paid gig was here, at the City Varieties, in 1956 as part of a mixed bill including strip stars such as “The Beautiful and Daring” Dorothe’a French.
Here is the playbill from that very first week. The rest, they say, is history.
“I’d been at the old Empire Theatre on Briggate, showing off for charity, I was at University of Leeds and Stanley and Michael Joseph offered me a week’s work. That was a real induction, I was suddenly a professional comedian. Eight shows that week, with strippers! You weren’t showing off for charity anymore, I learnt my business in that one week” – speaking in 2010.
Listen to more of Barry Cryer speaking about The Varieties here.
Barry would go on to become a favourite of The Good Old Days, performing several times in the BBC variety show, recorded at City Varieties. Watch one of his episodes from 1975 below.
Copyright: Leeds Library and Information Services - Playbills Collection