‘Laugh at life’ – Barry Hilton
With a track record of 30 years in comedy, Barry Hilton has raised the world’s laughter level considerably.
His delightful knack of finding the ludicrous and the humorous turns daily situations on their head to make his audience laugh at life.
At his performance on Thursday, April 24 at Movies@The Ridge, he urged residents of eMalahleni to laugh more “smile about the potholes, water and electricity problems and laugh as hard as you can about e-tol. It will make you feel better,” was his advice.
His face is as funny as his repartee, with lugubrious looks tailor-made for mirth.
Barry’s gregarious personality makes him a people’s person, happy to engage with the audience before and after his shows.
Barry is an old-school comedian who is as streetwise as any youngster. He has remained at the top by continually coming up with fresh material – and by having six children to keep him hip and happening.
His act is intelligent, observational, impeccably timed and never crude, sexist or racist. Just enormously funny.
That universal appeal, coupled with a rigorous training on the comedy circuit alongside the likes of John Cleese, Billy Connolly and Bob Monkhouse, give him a professionalism welcomed by any comedy club or corporation – punctual, polite, always topical, and always a strong performer.
Barry has become a national icon in a country where a new generation of comics is beginning to find its voice. This year the industry paid tribute to Barry with A Lifetime Achiever Award, presented at the Annual Comics Choice Awards.
His popularity extends far further, however. This year he became the first South African to perform at the prestigious Harrah’s Improv at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, headlining four shows.
This year Barry will open the Hong Kong 2014 Comedy Festival, followed by gigs in Singapore and Macau.
He has delighted the notoriously tough crowds in London’s Clapham Grand and his hilarious performances in Dubai saw him shortlisted alongside John Cleese for the Best Comedy Act in Dubai’s Timeout Nightlife Awards 2013.
In between, he is a corporate entertainer, motivational speaker and actor. He has starred in two movies, produced five stand-up comedy DVDs, hosted TV talk shows and featured in numerous TV commercials, most memorably as the face of Savanna Cider for more than a dozen hugely popular adverts.
Barry is not only one of the most experienced and versatile comedians around, he is also one of the funniest.
