The (re)Generation Gap
There are, of course, many Who fans out there for whom Who is a recently discovered passion. For whom the 2nd Doctor is David Tennant rather than Patrick Troughton.
But with nearly 50 years of material where to begin.
Luckily Matt is here to help us plug the (re)Generation Gap.
But with nearly 50 years of material where to begin.
Luckily Matt is here to help us plug the (re)Generation Gap.
1st of April 2011
Episode 2.5:
By Matt Crossman
We interrupt this broadcast for a commercial break.
Friday the 4th of March 2011.
I find myself at Olympia, just around the corner from Earl’s Court with a very excited boy. Most of you will be able to guess that we are about to enter The Doctor Who Experience.
For those of you not in the know, and there can’t be many of you, The Doctor Who Experience is a new exhibition that opened it’s door in London in late February. This column is about to reveal it’s inner most secrets so if you are planning on attending then I suggest you shy away from the sections I have marked thusly *****SPOILERS*****.
James and I had tickets for the 10.00 am to 10.30 am slot. They arrange the ‘experience’ side of things in half an hour sections and, I am told, the maximum capacity for each section is approximately 60 people. As we approached the doors at 10.00 am on the dot I was acutely aware that no one else was waiting outside. A good sign (I hate crowded events). We entered and was directed to the lift as the experience was taking place on the first floor. One very short lift ride later and there we were. I had bought a standard ticket for myself (£15.50) and a ‘Gold’ ticket for James (£32.50). We handed in James’ ticket for his goodie bag of ‘Gold’ goodness. Inside was an event programme (available on it’s own for £10), a lanyard, a credit card type of thing that proclaimed ‘I flew the TARDIS’, a ‘limited edition lithograph of ‘new’ Cybermen crossing a bridge in front of St Paul’s Cathedral, and a certificate for the lithograph. The lithographs are numbered and James was #1664 from a possible #3500. Remember that we went within 10 days out the experience opening but I think that when those lithographs run out they will probably make available different ones. Is the ‘Gold’ ticket worth the price? Probably not in all honesty but for those only planning on attending the once then it’s a nice souvenir. We then dumped our coats and bags in the cloak room (£1 per item) and then queued in the very small queue to enter (there were 12 in our group). After a brief wait we were allowed in. You walk down towards a static TARDIS and vortex and then turn right into a waiting area. This waiting area has some props from the most recent series including an Ironside Dalek, Queen Liz’s outfit and mask, a painting from the episode “Vincent” and some of the costumes from the Vampires of Venice.
****SPOILERS****
When the time comes you enter the experience through a fairly nondescript door and there you are on a small scale version of Starship UK. As the show begins there are several screens dotted around the set with a large screen dominating to the right as you entered. The Doctor explains how he has got stuck in the Pandorica again and he needs us, the ‘shoppers’ to help him out. Then the TARDIS materialises right before your eyes. I was quite close to this so I could see how the effect worked. For best results I suggest you stand near the door you entered as the further away you are the better the effect. Then the Doctor advises us all to pile into the TARDIS. This is a pretty awesome moment as you walk through the TARDIS doors (stroking the exterior as you pass by) into a pretty neat replica of the 11th Doctor’s console room. Here we are asked to gather round the console, children to the front, and help fly the TARDIS. Once you have pushed and pulled a lever that is not connected in anyway to the actual console you are rushed out of the ‘back door’ into a darkened room. In this room several Daleks are wheeled out for a relatively pointless part of the story where they screech at each before you are ushered out and into a rather poor effort at a weeping angel forest barely being able to stay long enough to take in how temporary the whole thing looks. Then you are into the 3-D movie part. The movie basically consists of a time vortex on screen with Daleks, Weeping Angels, and Cybermen thrusting themselves out of the screen. The 3-D effects are good but it’s really rather pointless. With that the ‘experience’ part is done. You are then ejected into the exhibition part
***** End of SPOILER*****
Passing a rather large Pandorica you enter into the main arena where, taking centre stage, is a TARDIS with a rather unflattering waxwork of Matt Smith. Surrounding this are the costumes of the previous 10 Doctors. Moving on you walk past some rather uninspired glass cases containing sonic screwdrivers and other equipment used by the Doctor before coming face to face with a rather good selection of past and present Daleks alongside Davros. Also present are a Zygon, an Ice warrior, Slitheen, Cyber men (of all shapes and sizes) and the K1 robot which is quite impressive. As good as these are the two stand out features are the two consoles rooms. First up is the 9th/10th Doctor console room which is mighty impressive. Shame about the constant loop of the 10th Doctor’s regeneration playing noisily in the background but this is only a minor detraction. Across the room, passing the clothes of various companions, is the 5th/6th Doctor’s console. These really are quite special.
We spent a total of 90 minutes in the attraction as a whole but to be honest we could have quite easily done the whole thing in under an hour. By the time I visited the part of the Doctor’s costumes for the third time James was busy playing with the lights that were projected onto the floor such was his interested. Finally I must save the final word for the ‘gift shop’. The ‘exclusive’ merchandise in this shop was limited to some under stocked and over priced t-shirts. Everything else could be bought either on line or at, say, Forbidden Planet for much cheaper. Basically it was a massive let down. James and I took our £150 and spent it in Forbidden Planet instead.
I imagine the casual Doctor Who fan will find this ‘experience’ a trifle underwhelming but for the rabid fan there is plenty to enjoy. I would steer clear of the ‘gold’ and ‘silver’ ticket options unless you really must have the lithograph and other pointless trinkets. If paying a regular ticket price this is worth it but by paying the extra it really isn’t good value for money. James, it has to be said, loved it and I have promised to take him back during the summer holidays. Don’t forget it’s only in London until the Autumn when I believe it will then move to Cardiff. Now…let’s get back to those DVDs…