Barnie Duncan has a long-standing background in physical comedy, ranging from silent slapstick to multi-character body morphing lunacy. Over the last 10 years he has written, directed and performed festival-hit-shows around the world in New Zealand, South Korea, Scotland, China, England, Germany and Finland, as well as touring within Australia at Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Perth’s Fringe World and Anywhere Theatre Festival in Brisbane.
In 2003 Barnie also co-founded the company Theatre Beating with Trygve Wakenshaw, and later Geoff Pinfield. The company has produced, written, directed and performed numerous shows: Happy Hour for Miserable Children (Best Comedy, 2004 Wellington Fringe Festival), This Is A Plum (Best Outdoor 2006 Wellington Fringe Festival), Constantinople, (Winner STAMP Award 2011 Auckland Fringe Festival and Hackman Theatre Award for Most Original Production, 2012), and the international children’s theatre hit The Magic Chicken.
Barnie moved to Melbourne in 2015, and the same year was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
In 2017 Barnie created three new pieces of work – Different Party with long-time collaborator Trygve Wakenshaw, Weekend At Barnie’s with Brisbane based performer Dani Cabs, and the third instalment in the Juan Vesuvius chronicles – Juan Vesuvius: I Am Your Deejay.
His new show, Tap Head, will premiere at the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Awards:
Best Comedy Award, Adelaide Fringe, 2018 (Different Party)
Anywhere Theatre Award, 2017 (Weekend at Barnie’s)
Skinny Fringe Genius Award, Most Original Production, Edinburgh Fringe, 2014 (Calypso Nights)
Fringe Award, Auckland Fringe 2013 (…him)
Hackman Theatre Award for Most Original Production, 2012 (Constantinople)
STAMP Award 2011 Auckland Fringe Festival (Constantinople)
Nominee: Best Newcomer, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2015 (Calypso Nights)
Nominee: Best Newcomer, New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2013 (Calypso Nights)
Website: http://www.juanvesuvius.com/
Social media:
Facebook: @juan.vesuvius Twitter: @barnie_juancan Instagram: @barnie_juancan
