Barry's acting career started in Cambridge at St John's College. His 'Footlights' credits include Revues at The Arts Theatre and on tour from 1965 to 1968 when he was elected President of the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club. Later revues include GONE WITH THE WINKLEPICKER, THE COARSE ACTING SHOW and LIGHT UP THE ARTS. Barry's Cambridge connection extends not only to acting but also to his professional involvement as the architect of the renovated Arts Theatre in Cambridge. His productions for Bawds include MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Dogberry) THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III (William Pitt), TIME OF MY LIFE (Dinka one of four waiters - all played by Barry), THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (pictured right as Porthos),  PYGMALION (Colonel Pickering), DAVID COPPERFIELD (Wilkins Micawber) and VALENTINE'S NIGHT (Bruno).

Acting roles for other companies include: THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (Sir Hugh Evans), THE WILD DUCK (Old Ekdal),  THE RULING CLASS (McKyle / Brocket), HABEAS CORPUS (Wicksteed), THE WINTER'S TALE (Clown),   KING LEAR (Edmund), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Steve),  THE RIVALS (Sir Anthony Absolute), NIGHT SCHOOL (Solto), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Benedict), SISTERLY FEELINGS (Len), LARK RISE (Albert), THE ARCHBISHOP'S CEILING (Adrian), THE MYSTERIES (God), TROILUS AND CRESSIDA (Ajax), THE DARK OF THE MOON (Preacher Haggler), THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Frollo),  THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Jack Worthing), THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (Sheridan Whiteside), THE ACCRINGTON PALS (Arthur Boggis), THE LAST AMATEUR PANTOMIME (Milt), BEDROOM FARCE (Trevor), THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (Antipholas), CALIFORNIA SUITE (Marvin Michaels), DANCING AT LUGHNASA (Michael), THE TEMPEST (Prospero), DICKENS AND COMPANY (Various), ON THE RAZZLE (Zangler), THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Maugrim the Wolf) , A TALE OF TWO CITIES (Stryver), THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (Albert the Horse), WHEN WE ARE MARRIED (Henry Ormonroyd), THE MIDNIGHT FOLK (Abner Brown) A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL (Dafydd ap Llewellen) and THE RIVALS (Sir Lucius O'Trigger).

Barry's writing credits include not only many sketches and revues for Footlights and St John's College, but also FUNERAL UNDER WATER which was selected for the Faber Book of Parodies in 1983, KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD (BBC Radio 1978) ARTIFICIAL COLOURING (BBC Radio 1984), LIGHT UP THE ARTS (Arts Theatre 1996), THE LAST AMATEUR DRAMATIC SHOW, THE LAST AMATEUR PANTOMIME, OH CAROL!, WINNIE THE POOH and ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS.  His directing credits include St John's College Revues (1964 to 1967), and NORMAN RUINS (Footlights 1972).