Gay Witch Sex Cult – King’s Head Theatre, London

Writer: Andrew Doherty

Director: Martin Willis

Kaelan Trough is somewhat anxious. He’s throwing a special party and we (the audience) have all been invited. Tonight is the gender reveal of the baby he and his husband are expecting. Unfortunately, Jeremy, Kaelan’s husband, is running late so Kaelan decides to engage us with the story of how the two met and fell in love.

Thus starts a convoluted tale that is simultaneously humorous, emotional, nonsensical and, even, terrifying. Kaelan’s initial friendly and slightly bitchy demeanour hides a multitude of personal insecurities and a dark tale, featuring the eponymous Gay Witch Sex Cult that beggars belief.

Andrew Doherty as Kaelan takes some time to warm to. Disturbingly he has the look of a younger Piers Morgan and is laden with a bundle of nervous energy that straddles an odd balance of over-the-top campiness and dour introspection. He pauses and stutters, giving an uneasy sense that maybe this performer isn’t quite on his A-game. It feels like you’re watching an 8-year-old who’s been put on the spot about something.

However this is just Kaelan and, as his tale unfolds, it’s obvious to see why Kaelan’s character and mood shift so rapidly. Once settled into the character and the audience can relax, Doherty reveals himself to be a confident, engaging and hugely likeable performer.

The story twists and turns. It is, at times, light and camp but then intense and brooding. Above all, though, it is very funny and, with a number of jump scares thrown in for good measure, it gives some horror plays a good run for their money too.

For those old enough to recall the Ronnie Corbett jokes for The Two Ronnies TV show (when he’d sit on a black chair and tell a joke), this feels much like that. There is a simple core story, but in telling it, the protagonist adds all sorts of stories around the central premise that, at the time, seem a huge distraction but ultimately delivers a greater cohesive narrative.

Gay Witch Sex Cult is an odd show in so many ways but it is very compelling. It rests on Doherty’s performance and he delivers this with bells on. It will make you laugh. It’ll make you scream and it’ll make you ponder. Above all, it’ll make you glad you went to see it.

Runs until 15 July 2023