The trains stopped. The hotel was wrong. The air conditioning didn’t exist. And somehow this comedy hypnotist still ended up with a stage full of volunteers milking an imaginary cow in Mansfield.
Here’s the full story behind the latest video from the road, plus the moments you really need to see.
A Comedy Hypnotist, a Heatwave and No Trains
Picture England in the middle of a heatwave. Hotter than Spain, people said. You’d think that would be good news. It isn’t, because British trains don’t love the cold and, as it turns out, they don’t love the heat either.
We were sitting at Nottingham station when the train to Mansfield was cancelled. The replacement was a minibus. Not a coach. A minibus, the kind you’d use for a school trip, and nobody was expecting air con.
The show wasn’t until the next day. That’s not luck, that’s a rule. I always get to a town a day early, because the one time you don’t is the one time the trains melt.
Two Travelodges, Both Called Mansfield
We rolled into Mansfield station at two in the afternoon and found it locked. No ticket office, no trains, no people. Then came the hotel.
There are two Travelodges in Mansfield, and they’re both called Mansfield. One says Town Centre. The other doesn’t. You can guess which one we were standing outside of, miles from where we were booked. The phone line kept hanging up on us, the office computer was trapped behind a new floor being laid, and the lovely lady on the front desk did her best while we stood there sweating. In the end it was an Uber across town, fish and chips and an early night.
Is it glamorous? No. Is it real touring life? Absolutely. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a hypnotist’s tour, this is most of it.
Exploring Mansfield Before OneFest
With a day to kill, we walked the town. Three nail shops and two barbers in about twenty feet of high street. A proper old fashioned pub with no Wi-Fi, tills that didn’t work, and a landlady peeling potatoes behind the bar who told us to skip the work and get on the beers. There was a menu of around a hundred pies. We came back for lunch the next day, obviously.
Then we popped into The Old Library Theatre, where the show would be. OneFest is Mansfield’s arts festival, packed with theatre, music, comedy and cabaret, and the venue was gorgeous. It was also going to be hot. Very hot. Fans only.
Over a pint I got asked the question I hear in every town: can anyone be hypnotized? My answer is always the same. It’s a belief system. A few weeks earlier in Turkey, a lady told me there was no way I was getting into her head. She dropped like a sack of potatoes. Meg, if you’re reading this, you know who you are.
Inside the Mansfield Comedy Hypnosis Show
Show night. There were around eighteen chairs on stage and I told the room what I tell every audience: the more volunteers, the better the show. They came up in waves. To be hypnotized you just have to pay attention, focus, relax and listen to the sound of my voice. Mansfield did exactly that.
Here’s what happened next:
- Sunburn and bugs. Given the weather, it felt only right to have everyone putting on suntan lotion and slapping away insects buzzing around their heads.
- An instant rock band. People who have never played a note picked up invisible instruments and absolutely went for it.
- Cocoa Puff the cow. Milking a beautiful cow sounds sweet, until you find out Cocoa Puff has been very, very unwell for a month. I’ll let the video explain.
- A police stop. Everyone went for a spin in a sports car, hit 145, and got pulled over. One driver was speeding because the police were behind him. Another was being chased by giant crabs. How big? Bigger than they look in the mirror, apparently.
- The Gibberish Rap Championship. Two contestants, one language nobody speaks, and an audience that voted like a Premier League referee. We crowned the International Gibberish Rap Champion of OneFest 2026.
That’s the thing about a live theatre hypnosis show. You can’t script it. The volunteers write the comedy, and Mansfield wrote some of the best of the summer.
Want this at your festival or event? Richard brings the full comedy hypnosis show to theatres, festivals, colleges and corporate events. Check availability here.
What the Volunteers Said Afterward
The best part of the video might be the end, when we caught up with people who had just been on stage. One volunteer said they felt comfortable, relaxed and very safe in my hands. Another said I had them in bits: being a chicken, flying, not knowing who they were. One pair admitted they couldn’t go under and got sent back to their seats, which happens, and they still loved watching their friends lose it.
Somebody pointed out that this was a five pound festival event. Someone else said they’d come again if I came back to Mansfield. I’d like that. Maybe in cooler weather.
You can read more of what audiences say on the comedy hypnotist reviews page, or learn how it all works on facts about hypnosis.
Richard Barker’s Final Thoughts
Cancelled trains, a locked station, the wrong hotel and a theatre with no air con. On paper it was a disaster. On stage it was one of the funniest nights of the tour. That’s why I always arrive a day early, and it’s why I love festivals like OneFest. Thank you Mansfield. Watch the full video, and if you were up on stage, leave a comment and tell everyone it was you.
Try the Hypnosis Hub App Free
If you want to experience hypnosis for yourself, the Hypnosis Hub app is the easiest place to start. It includes a free guided breathing program to calm your nervous system on demand, plus a full hypnosis audio session designed to help you sleep deeper and break the insomnia cycle. No subscription required to try it.
Download Hypnosis Hub Free, or scan the QR code above from your phone.
Comedy Hypnotist FAQs
Can anyone be hypnotized at a comedy hypnosis show?
Most people can, but not everyone will. Hypnosis works through focus and belief, so the volunteers who pay attention, relax and follow the voice go deepest. Some people who swear they can’t be hypnotized drop fastest. Some who are sure they can end up gently sent back to their seats. Part of the hypnotist’s job is spotting who is really in.
Is a comedy hypnosis show safe for volunteers?
Yes. Volunteers stay aware and can’t be made to do anything against their values. The laughs come from harmless imagination, like playing an invisible guitar or milking a pretend cow. After the Mansfield show one volunteer said she felt comfortable, relaxed and very safe in Richard’s hands, which is exactly how it should feel.
Does Richard Barker perform comedy hypnosis shows in the UK?
Yes. Richard Barker is a British born comedy hypnotist based in the United States who still performs in the UK, including festivals like OneFest in Mansfield. He also performs theatre shows, corporate events, colleges and cruise ships. Festival and event organizers can check dates and availability through the contact page.
How long is a comedy hypnosis show?
A typical public show runs 45 to 90 minutes depending on the event. It starts with inviting volunteers onto the stage, then a short induction to find the best hypnotic subjects, followed by a string of comedy routines. The Mansfield festival show packed rock stars, a cow, a police stop and a gibberish rap battle into its set.
