More than 36 years since it first hit the West End stage, the Rocky Horror Show is still going strong and returns to New Wimbledon Theatre this week. Here, writer and creator Richard O'Brien talks to Graham Moody about the show's longevity, obsessive fans, and whether he will ever act in it again.

Graham Moody: How does it feel to still be talking about Rocky Horror after all this time?

Richard O'Brien: I have no problems talking about Rocky, it's one of those great joys in my life because it’s a great joy in other people’s lives. I love the fact that when the show comes into town it cheers people up. I wouldn’t want to be sitting here if I was just flogging a show for the sake of flogging it. That would really embarrass me.

GM: Are you still hands on with the show?

ROB: Not this time around because there are two people involved I know I can trust. One is Christopher Luscombe, our director, who did a splendid job last time around and understood exactly what was going on. The other is David Bedella who is playing Frank ‘N’ Furter again and he was terrific, controlled, sensible, witty and intelligent last time. With the two of them at the helm I don’t really have to worry very much.

GM: You’re still attached enough that you want to get the piece exactly right then?

ROB: What I don’t ever want to happen is the people who haven’t seen it to feel like they are sitting at a party they haven’t been invited to. It was getting a bit like that at one stage which is why we were sent to rescue it and take it back away from the fans owning the show to the people on stage owning the show. The people on stage were feeling all at sea because the audience had taken over.

GM: How did the whole fan interaction thing start?

ROB: In New York City somebody yelled a line at the stage and it got a small snigger of approval and the next night somebody else tried a line and it was like wildfire. It was a very strange phenomenon. Very, very odd and quite wonderful.

GM: Are you au fait with their cues and the lines they shout?

ROB: Some of them. But some of them are quite disgusting and really rather crude. They would pre-empt your line so not only did you have to put up with the awfulness of the line, you also kind of bought into it. You’ve become their patsy and it was completely unpleasant. The first time you go ‘urrrgggh, you’ve made me your fool’.

GM: Would you go back to performing in Rocky Horror again?

ROB: I don’t think I should. I did go over to Wimbledon at the end of the run there last year and played the Usherette with a big blonde wig on. I looked at bit like Joanna Slumley! I went on with an electric guitar and played it live with the guitar, that was fun just topping and tailing the piece.

Rocky Horror Show, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, September 17 to 19, 22 to 26, 7.30pm, Saturday's 5.30pm and 8.30pm, £22 to £30. Call 0844 871 7646 or visit newwimbledontheatre.co.uk.