Interview: Andrew Doherty on Living with Two-Star Trauma in ‘Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!’

Andrew Doherty is bringing his Scottish audience Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!, a new Fringe hit inspired by a Victorian ghost story. After two hysterical performances (Gay Witch Sex Cult and Sad Gay AIDS Play), he is hitting the Pleasance stage again with this hilarious and spooky one-man show starring himself.

We met him ahead of his third Fringe run to chat about the festival, his creative process, horror movies, and a shared love of the Mothman.

This is your third season at the Fringe. We all know it’s an intense marathon – what specific Fringe magic keeps pulling you back year after year?

The cynical thing to say is career. It’s hard to describe to people who haven’t done it. People who go up for a few days to visit don’t get what it’s like being there for the month and doing your show non-stop. It makes you a better performer and hopefully also a better writer.

Given the current economic pressure, do you feel the Fringe is still providing an open door for working-class and grassroots performers?

More people are coming for just a week or two, and it is being treated as a more viable format. It’s the accommodation more than anything, and obviously, taking the entire month off from your regular life is insane. But there has been more of a conversation [about the limitations of performing at the Fringe].

As a reviewer sitting across from you, I have to ask about the title Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE!. What is the concept behind the show, and what inspired that specific title?

The relationship between reviewers and acts, particularly at the Fringe, is such an interesting one. The idea is to mock this actor who is so upset about a mild review that he’s made a show about how awful reviewers are. There are a few jabs at reviewers, but I think overall, the joke is meant to be on him and his pettiness.

Yes, I agree that the relationship between creatives and critics will always be complicated. You put yourself out there, and this person lurks in the audience, then goes home and might give you an incredibly bad review.

Have you ever read a two-star review of a film and as you read it, you feel like you would enjoy it? There is still value to [a bad review]. But, especially at the Fringe, it can feel like a two-star review could make you reconsider the entire show. But you have to get yourself out of that headspace.

How do you process criticism and reviews?

It’s something I got a lot better at in my second year. You see the audience enjoying themselves and bounce off that. So even if a few people are not enjoying it, it doesn’t mean it’s going badly. Personally, I think my show last year was better than my show the year before. And I know some reviewers disagree with it. But you’ve got to focus on what you think about it.

What is your writing process?

[My shows] are kind of like plays. They are very heavily scripted, not so much like typical stand-up. This year’s show started as a Victorian ghost story.

The original script was based a lot on a ghost story by M.R. James. There was also a bit about the snobbery of academia, but that didn’t make the final cut. It changed considerably from the first draft. I’m also a big believer in getting something down on the page, regardless of whether it’s good. You have to get it down, and only then you start making it better.

That old and ever true, ‘If I worry too much about form, I’ll end up not writing a single word’?

I read an interview with Zach Cregger, who wrote Weapons [epic multi-layered horror movie]. He talked about how his first draft was what he calls ‘the goblin draft’. He imagines a little goblin running over the keys. Just get it out. Don’t worry about continuity or if the entire story changes halfway through. Just carry on with it.

Are you a big fan of horror? What’s your favourite horror movie?

The Exorcist III is really good. A classic. I also loved Barbarian. I thought that was terrifying.

When you aren’t on stage yourself, whose work are you excited to track?

Lil Wenker has a new show, BOYKING, which I’m very excited for. Joseph Morpurgo is coming back, and he was a big inspiration for me because he does very high-concept comedy shows. My friend Cecily Hitchcock’s doing her debut, so I can’t wait to see that. Oh, my friends are also doing Mothman: A Romance Musical.

Reviewers Welcome… TO DIE! is Upstairs at the Pleasance Courtyard from 7th to 30th August

Photo credit: Samuel Kirkman