My Festival: Jack Docherty
The Scottish comedy star on why his new show is his most personal to date, his hippyish attitude to festivals and his prize-winning dahlias
There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours?
I think it’s important to support local talent at the very start of their career.
What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?
Well, this is the most personal show I’ve ever done. The closest to stand-up. You’ll learn about my Edinburgh childhood, my parents' adherence to ‘The Done Thing’ and, I’m afraid to say, my sex life. You’ll also learn about my hopes and dreams and particularly my fears. Fears is where comedy hides.
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Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show?
My father is a ghostly presence throughout Butterfly, but the jumping off point for the show was an argument I had with my daughter whilst walking in the Highlands. It ended with her saying ‘Why are you like this?!’ And I thought, well, I could really engage with her and have a serious conversation about emotional unavailability… or, I could write a show about it and hope that she comes to see it. And here we are. But in general, I returned to performing after seeing Mike Birbiglia in New York and falling in love with his work. So blame Mike.
What’s the best review you’ve ever had, and the worst?
Fortuitously the best review I’ve ever had was this year – a five-star for Butterfly, in this very august publication. I’ve always held the Scotsman reviewers in high regard! Apart from 1993 when you gave me and Moray Hunter an absolute stinker. But I try and take Julian Barnes advice about good and bad reviews – you can’t believe both, so better to believe neither. (Having said that, you, the audience, should believe the five-star one about Butterfly.)
Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year?
Oh so many. Elf Lyons, Lara Ricote, Lou Wall, Pierre Novellie, Chris Forbes, Bella Hull, Jamie Kilstein, Stamptown, to name a few. (Lara and Elf are my top recommendations.)
Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh?
My mum and sister, who both still live here. I’m lucky enough to get to stay at my sister’s gratis. Although I’ve noticed that she now tends to go on holiday when I rock up.
READ MORE: My Festival: Ayo Adenekan
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I won Best Dahlia Bloom last year at the Kew Horticultural Society competition.
What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?
Only good things have ever happened to me at a festival. Even the bad is good because you learn. Sorry to get all hippy on you.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
Wake up. Fall asleep.
Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?
We’re having a dirty martini at the bar in the Palmerston. Cheers!
Jack Docherty: Butterfly, Gilded Ballon Teviot, 7.30pm, until 29 August. Scottish Comedy Legends: Jack Docherty, Stand Comedy Club, Friday 28 August, 12.15pm
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