News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Barry James Headshot

Barry James

Get Barry James Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

BIO

Theatre includes: working with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Company for two years and the NT for six-and-a-half years, playing principal parts in many productions, notably The Merchant of Venice with Laurence Olivier, A Woman Killed with Kindness and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. He has enjoyed long runs in the West End in Sancho Panza, Billy, as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar and Murphy in Windy City. He also appeared in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Theatre Royal, York) and Take Eight (world premiere, Manchester Royal Exchange).


More recently, principal roles at the NT in The Rivals, Love for Love, The Threepenny Opera and The American Clock. In the West End he has starred as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Comedy), Mendel in March of the Falsettos (Albery), spent more than three years as Thénardier in Les Misérables (Palace) and played Otto Kringelein in Grand Hotel (Dominion). Regional theatre includes: Love Off the Shelf (Nuffield, Southampton), the Maltby/Shire revue Closer Than Ever (European premiere), The Baker in Sondheim’s Into the Woods (Library Theatre, Manchester) and, recently, Salad Days (tour). In 1994 he appeared as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd (NT, Olivier Award nomination), followed by a long run as Ladislav Sipos in She Loves Me (Savoy, Olivier Award nomination). He also played Mr Bumble in Oliver! (Palladium) and Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Dominion). In 2000, Barry returned to Les Misérables as Thénardier (Palace) and then played Amos Hart in Chicago alongside Denise Van Outen. He completed another run as Thénardier at the Palace in 2005-06. Recently, he returned to Little Shop of Horrors, this time as Mr Mushnik (Menier Chocolate Factory and West End), and played Herr Schultz in Rufus Norris’s production of Cabaret (Lyric).
Film and television include: Thriller, Porridge, The Merchant of Venice directed by Jonathan Miller, Shake Hands Forever (Inspector Wexford mystery) and Claudius in Further Up Pompeii with Frankie Howerd.
Recordings include: the recent version of My Fair Lady and Thénardier on the Grammy Award-winning Symphonic Les Misérables.

STAGE CREDITS

[West End]
West End Revival, 2021
Bank Chairman

Admiral Boom

[West End]
Original Production, 2017
Bert [Replacement]

[West End]
West End Original Production, 2013
Grandpa Joe [Replacement]


Videos

News


Chester Theatre Company Announces Full Casting for 35th Season

Full casting has been announced for Chester Theatre Company's 2024 season. 
Chester Theatre Company Reveals Casting For 35th Season

Chester Theatre Company has announced casting for its 2024 season. Learn more about the full season here!
EGTG Celebrates 70 Years Of Amateur Theatre In Edinburgh

Local amateur theatre company, Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group (EGTG), will celebrate 70 years of producing theatre in 2024, with a bumper season of theatrical productions, drama workshops, and more. 
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET CHRISTMAS Comes to Capital Repertory Theatre This Month

Capital Repertory Theatre is celebrating the holidays with its second 2023/24 season show, “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas.” Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together again to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Comes to Riverside Theatre This Month

Riverside Theatre begins its 51st season celebrating an electrifying night of early rock ‘n roll with Million Dollar Quartet.
Urban Stages to Host Special Post-Show Conversations Following Performances of THE MAKING OF A GREAT MOMENT

Discover Urban Stages' production of THE MAKING OF A GREAT MOMENT, written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb and directed by James Barry. Join in on the special post-show conversations and engage with the play's themes. Don't miss this opportunity starting October 11.
THE MAKING OF A GREAT MOMENT Begins Tonight at Urban Stages

Award-winning Off-Broadway theater Urban Stages will produce Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's play The Making of a Great Moment, directed by James Barry, Chester Theater Company's Co-Producing Artistic Director.  Learn more about the production here!
Initial Cast Set For CINDERELLA Panto at Theatre Royal Winchester

Theatre Royal Winchester has announced the first members of its cast for this year’s traditional family pantomime, Cinderella – and it’s a double act reunion!
Chester Theatre Company Reveals Casting For 2023 Season

Recently appointed Co-Producing Artistic Directors James Barry and Tara Franklin have announced the full casting for Chester Theatre Company’s 2023 season, the first under their direction. 
Feature: 58TH 2023 FLEUR DU CAP AWARDS at Oude Libertas Amphitheatre

The stars and beautiful people came out to play at the 58th FLEUR DU CAP AWARDS last Sunday night - 26 March 2023. It was such a treat to be surrounded by so many great theatre makers and talented human beings, as well as to honour those who have done incredible things in the last year.
58th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards Winners Announced

It was a glittering affair at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch on Sunday, 26 March, when the winners of the 58th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced. The event was one of many celebrating World Theatre Day globally on the 27th of March.  
Nominations Announced For the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards

The Distell Group and Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards panel have announced the anticipated list of nominees in contention for the prestigious awards which reward outstanding work in the theatre industry annually. 
Chester Theatre Company Announces 2023 Season

Recently appointed Co-Producing Artistic Directors James Barry and Tara Franklin have announced Chester Theatre Company’s 2023 season, the first under their direction. Barry and Franklin are known for their award-winning work on the Town Hall Theatre stage, and they are now heading the organization and programming works for Chester audiences.
CTC Announces Leadership Change

After seven successful seasons as Producing Artistic Director at Chester Theatre Company (CTC), Daniel Elihu Kramer is leaving to focus on his increased responsibilities at Smith College and his work as a freelance theatre artist.
PASS OVER Comes to Chester Theatre Company This Month

On July 28, Chester Theatre Company (CTC) will begin its two-week run of Pass Over, the show that reopened Broadway in 2021.
Chester Theatre Company Announces Casting For The 2022 Season

After two seasons away, Chester Theatre Company (CTC), under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Daniel Elihu Kramer, will return to the Town Hall Theatre, its beloved home in Chester, MA.
CTC Announces Its 2022 Season in Chester

Chester Theatre Company (CTC) returns to the Town Hall Theatre for the 2022 season with a full complement of four productions that includes a World Premiere Commission and a fresh restaging of a popular hit.
Sky Arts to Broadcast CAMERON MACKINTOSH - THE FIRST 50 YEARS Documentary

Sky Arts will broadcast a new documentary Cameron Mackintosh - The First 50 Years on Monday 27 December 2021 at 7pm, a two-hour programme featuring Mackintosh’s life as a producer told through his own eyes and those of his friends and colleagues including his most famous writer collaborators.
ALADDIN is Now Playing at Theatre Royal Winchester

Aladdin, this year's traditional family pantomime, at Theatre Royal Winchester is now on and once again it's a hit with the audiences.  
Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Announces 2021 'Berkie' Award Winners

The fifth 'Berkie' Awards for outstanding achievements in theatre arts for productions in the greater Berkshire region between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021, were presented by the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association (BTCA) on the evening of Monday, November 15 at Zion Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsfield, MA. J. Peter Bergman and Macey Levin hosted the event.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Barry James been in?

Barry James has not appeared on Broadway.

How many West End shows has Barry James been in?

Barry James has appeared on London's West End in 4 shows.

What was Barry James's first West End show?

Barry James's first West End show was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which opened in 2013

Get Barry James Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos