About Garry
'Damien Warren-Smith’s alter ego delivers a drama masterclass, leading us from clownish chaos to feats of comic genius'
The Guardian
Damien Warren-Smith, A.K.A. Garry Elizabeth Starr is a writer, producer and performer of delightfully silly comedy for stage and screen.
Growing up in regional Australia Damien tried his hand at every sport imaginable before finally accepting that he was destined to dress up and pretend to be other people. He flew the coop to London where he worked as an actor with some of the UK’s biggest hitters including BBC, ITV, Tall Stories, Nottingham Playhouse and Hull Truck Theatre.
He spoke actual words on TV shows Law & Order: UK, The Persuasionists and Love My Way.
'Over far too soon, this calling card of a solo debut from Warren-Smith leaves you hoping to see much more of Starr'
The Scotsman
Damien trained as an actor in Sydney, a clown in Paris and a mime in Berlin before collaborating with renowned comedy director Cal McCrystal for his breakout solo show Garry Starr Performs Everything which won awards at fringe festivals in Adelaide, Sydney, Brighton and Manchester and was nominated for both Best Newcomer & The Golden Gibbo at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The show sold out every single night for a month at the Edinburgh Fringe before transferring to London’s Soho Theatre.
'A masterclass in mockery...
Warren-Smith is clearly a talented all-round performer'
London Evening Standard
Before the pandemic he teamed up with McCrystal again to create the role of Reverend Peabody as part of the Atomic Saloon Show which played to packed houses at The Venetian in Las Vegas.
When COVID came along and ruined everything Damien returned to Melbourne and got a job as a delivery driver, dropping off brand-spanking new bicycles to the people of Victoria. It turns out 8 hours a day in a van is a great time for creative thought!
He emerged from lockdown with his new solo show Garry Starr: Greece Lightning which picked up the top prize at Adelaide Fringe, Best Comedy at Manchester Fringe, Best Show at Gothenburg Fringe and was one of the best reviewed shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2022.
Damien now resides in Melbourne where he continues to write and perform and ride bicycles and read books and hang out wherever there are dogs.
Both Performs Everything and Greece Lightning will tour internationally in 2023.
★★★★★
'Greece Lightning has absolutely nothing to say about Greek mythology and therein lies its brilliance'
Beyond the Joke
★★★★★
'An anarchic play-date with a six-foot-two toddler with a mop of fuzzy hair, no inhibitions and far too much raspberry cordial on board. It’s an exhilarating feeling'
GLAM Adelaide
★★★★★
'Garry Starr's inability to keep his clothes on is deliciously inappropriate'
The Scotsman
★★★★★
'Expect to be breathless with laughter, perhaps questioning your own sanity while also blessing your good luck at choosing to catch this performance'
The List
★★★★★
'This hour of madcap mayhem needs to shoot straight to the top of your must-see list'
Scottish Daily Mail