James Barr
Comedian James Barr Brings, Fearless Comedy Show to Newbury’s Old Library this autumn
Webby Award-winning comedian James Barr takes his fearless, critically acclaimed, multi-award-nominated show Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) to the Old Library in Newbury on Thursday 22 October.
One of the most talked-about comedy shows in the UK right now, this darkly hilarious, genre-defying hour stormed the Edinburgh Fringe with three major award nominations and a place among the Best Reviewed Shows of 2025.
Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) is a deeply personal account of James’ experience as a survivor of domestic violence.
The show maps the emotional steps he went through in a four-year relationship – from minimising and denial to recognition and escape.
Using comedy, he exposes the emotional logic that kept him there.
The result is a show that tackles domestic abuse and emotional cruelty without ever feeling overwhelming or despairing, landing as both a poignant and life-affirming hour of stand-up comedy.
By speaking out about his experiences, James hopes to give voice to the one in five adults who experience domestic abuse in the UK in their lifetimes.
This statistic is even higher for LGBTQ+ people, with reported domestic abuse rates one-third higher for Lesbian and Gay Individuals: 6% in the last year, compared to 4.5% for heterosexuals (Office for National Statistics 2025).
Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) is co-directed by Madeleine Parry, director of Hannah Gadsby’s Emmy Award-winning Nanette (Netflix Special), and an Australian Directors’ Guild award winner.
The show has been developed further with feedback from fellow comics and guidance from legendary producer and screenwriter Russell T Davies.
Ahead of James bringing the show around the UK, he will be performing his hour at prestigious international festivals, including Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well as a show in Sydney and at London’s Soho Theatre.
James Barr comments… I almost quit comedy after what happened to me.
I never imagined telling this story onstage.
But performing this show over a hundred times around the world has become one of the most transformative experiences of my life.
What began with me crying in a grubby Edinburgh basement has grown into something genuinely life-changing for me and the audience.
I’m in my healing era, and I can’t wait to share that with as many people as possible as I visit my favourite places in the UK.
You can book your tickets now at cornexchangenew.com or by contacting the Box Office on 01635 522733 or emailing boxoffice@cornexchangenew.co.uk
About James Barr
James is a multi-award-winning UK comedian, radio host (The Hits Radio Breakfast Show) and TV presenter (ITV, BBC, MTV, Channel 5).
He’s delighted audiences with his own brand of outrageous and upbeat comedy on-air, onstage and online.
Kylie Minogue, who surprised James with a cake for his 40th birthday, and fellow survivor Spice Girl Mel B are both fans of James with Mel particularly supportive of his mission to make his lived experience of domestic abuse funny.
His latest season at Edinburgh Fringe garnered him an inclusion on ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show long-list as well as The Times Best Jokes Of The Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and his provocative appearances on Piers Morgan Uncensored have racked up over 15 million views and counting.
Press Quotes:
★★★★★ ‘Even in the uglier revelations, he manages to make the audience laugh. A lot. He’s hilariously rude, confessional, outrageously indiscreet and extremely engaging, delivering a belly laugh and a gut punch in the same sentence. Empowering and very, very funny.’ Canalstreet.co.uk
★★★★★ ‘A masterclass in Queer Storytelling’ Metro ★★★★ ‘It’s fascinating to watch someone break the rules of their chosen craft and succeed.’ Arts Hub, Adelaide Fringe 2025
★★★★ ‘It’s almost shameful that Barr should mercilessly and incessantly joke about domestic violence for almost fifty minutes, and even worse that we the audience should laugh at it.
But that’s exactly what happens: Barr does it so well and we laugh and laugh’ The Barefoot Review, Adelaide Fringe 2025
★★★★ ‘Confronting and funny… A burgeoning storyteller’ The List, 2025
★★★★ ‘Funny and sad, truthful and silly, hurtful and important.’ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine, 2025
★★★★ ‘He had us on the edge of our seats.’ Pride Nomad
★★★★’A bold piece. Entertaining and urgent.’ Shadows on the Wall
The Old Library Newbury
After almost two years of dedicated fundraising, towards a total £1.3 million target, the project is set to deliver a permanent, accessible and welcoming arts hub, providing a home for Corn Exchange Newbury’s creative participation programmes.
The new creative hub will enable Corn Exchange Newbury to expand and enhance its creative programmes, delivering events designed to improve the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of the local Newbury community and beyond.
The new initiatives, including youth dance companies and mobility and balance classes for adults, will complement an expanded youth theatre and a growing programme for the over-55s, featuring Sing 55 and Dare to Dance.
The summer programme of events will go on sale to Corn Exchange Members on 5th March at 10am and to the general public on 12th March at 10am. Sign up to our newsletter to hear more about these.
The Old Library will also feature a bright and airy café bar, offering fresh, handmade treats and locally roasted coffee.
Providing a welcoming place for visitors to meet, gather and connect, it will create a vibrant social space at the heart of the building.
As preparations continue for the building’s opening in April 2026, fundraising is now focused on fitting out the interior to ensure it is fully equipped to host a wide range of creative courses and classes.
Alongside approaches to local funders, and appeals for one off gifts and gifts in kind, the popular Name a Seat appeal continues to give supporters the chance to leave a lasting legacy within the building, attracting support from notable figures such as Dame Julie Walters.
The Corn Exchange Trust also manages four other key spaces; the Corn Exchange which includes a 400 seat auditorium, a 40 seat independent cinema and a Cafe and Bar; 101 Outdoor Arts: National Centre for Arts in Public Space – a unique outdoor arts creation centre for the development of large-scale outdoor performances, making and rehearsal space and on-site accommodation; their centrally located Learning Centre in which workshops and courses for all ages take place(based at HoganMusic); and The Base Greenham, a visual arts gallery and workshop space on Greenham Business Park which is also home to 8 resident artists.
The performance programme at the Corn Exchange has developed considerably in recent years.
They present a mixed programme of theatre, dance, comedy, music, family, film and outdoor work to audiences from across the South East.
The emphasis is on presenting shows of the highest quality and films that inspire and entertain audiences, with attendance growing year on year.
The Trust produces its own pantomime in-house, as well as supporting a range of artists and companies across all art-forms through commissioning and development opportunities, mentoring and production support.
Their emphasis is on presenting great shows and films that audiences really want to come and see and that reflect the rich diversity of our country today.
Always high quality, they’re really proud that their attendance figures are growing year on year.
Transport
By Bicycle: public bike parking is available in the Market Place, a short walk from our front door.
By Train or Bus: five-minute walk from both the train and bus stations; regular services run from Reading, Windsor, Basingstoke, Winchester, Oxford and London.
By Car: 10 minutes from M4 Junction 13. There are a number of town centre car parks (pay on exit): Mon-Sun: £2 after 6pm. For car parks behind the Corn Exchange sat nav RG14 5QP.
Please visit the Accessibility page for information about the facilities at the Corn Exchange
