Repeat Attenders

I was transfixed from the start- but wasn't prepared for my own roller coaster of emotions. I won't spoil it, but for anyone who has ever felt pure elation and excitement at that red velvet curtain rising, then this is an absolute must see. I'm excited to see what this director does next. Encore!!

There's a point about an hour into Repeat Attenders where the director decides to derail his own moderately competent documentary by platforming a man who repeatedly threatened to rape Debbie Gibson.

Almost all the subjects interviewed are being exploited for their mental illness, and the film is obviously pieced together from footage that was shot across an entire decade.

The whole thing is sad, joyless and unexpectedly dark. It's occasionally fascinating, but the extended interview with Debbie Gibson's stalker makes the film not worth anyone's time or money.

There's a great film to be made about Broadway fan culture and the people who sleep out for rush tickets, but this absolutely isn't it.

It is unfathomable that this is the Director's first doco. Repeat Attenders has been meticulously crafted with such attention to detail, that makes the film unforgettable. This documentary takes the viewer on a journey of the psyche of the Super Fan- what makes these fans see a show again and again? It is clear that the the director Mark Dooley, has the passion, empathy and unique ability to get to the heart of the Repeat Attender's story. He has shades of Louis theroux. I cannot wait to see what this Star film maker does next. A must see for ALL lovers of musical theatre.

I did not like this film at all. Being fond of musical theatre I found the film depressing and in parts creepy. It's not a side of the genre I am comfortable with. Also , it did seem like a sponsored promotion for the German production of Starlight Express. The quality of filming and content was inconsistent with some of the shows included clearly not giving consent for inclusion.

I don't know where to start with this film. I went on such an emotional rollercoaster. I started off laughing at these extreme fans, but ending up questioning why I am not more like them! Be warned though, this film is not all jazz hands and tap dancing, it is an exploration into all aspects of musical theatre fandom, and the compulsions some people have in attaching themselves to a hobby. Both sides of the fandom are shown, which is quite confronting to watch, but necessary to show what happens when boundaries are crossed. It should be noted how many great female characters are in this film, who speak with such raw and vulnerable honesty, which takes immense trust and skill. This director shows great promise, if this is what he delivers for his first feature film.