Act Two nearly finished

Friday (September 28) saw us hurtling towards the end of both Act Two and the play. However, owing to the technicalities of blocking the Daleks in for a major sequence (which I can't discuss, sorry!) meant that this will have to picked up at tomorrow's rehearsal (October 1). There was much discussion on certain aspects of how to achieve maximum drama and impact from the action and contributions were welcome from everyone. Of course, I put my comments in!

Once we've finished Block 6, we'll be giving the whole of Act One a run through and from now on scripts are not allowed, eek!

This is where it get serious and all the larking around that we have been doing to help make rehearsals fun has to be turned down while the professionalism is turned up.

As a surprise this time, Stuart Currie (one of the Dalek builders) turned up with his two Daleks, Dylan and Dougal, for use at rehearsal. This was due to technical reasons.



Sadly for Dalek Spy, Block 6 has now arrived so it's the last time for three little words. However, there is a photo of Dylan visiting us and next week there should also be an exclusive video interview with Stuart Currie.

• target
• ashes
  
• lunatic
  

Click on the image for a larger version in a new window

Last chance to see...

Ticket sales have now hit over 2000, with over 200 going in the last week!

This means that with less than four weeks until we open and the 'on the door' sales, there should be a total sell out, just like last year's play.

So if you haven't got your tickets yet you'd better hurry up.

My end is in sight!

Owing to the rather interesting mix of Blocks 4 and 5 last time, we did the same yesterday (September 24) to make sure that the rehearsal schedule was kept to. This means that we are now only one more session away from completing a total run trough of the play.

Friday (September 28) will see Block 6 given the full treatment. This will also be the last time that any of us will be allowed to have scripts with us as well.

I've also been promoted in a way... I'm still playing Dalek Two, but as the operator for Dalek One was unavailable last night it was decided that when a sole Dalek is required during part of Act Two that I should take role. What this does mean, apart from having to learn more of the script, is that I'll need to switch Daleks now as there is something rather special about the other casing.

So farewell Groucho and hello Alfred. Alfred is a more solid construction (again by Ashley Nealfuller) as he's made mostly from wood as opposed to fibreglass. Just as I've got used to swinging around in a nice light casing, now I'll really have to put some extra effort into it as Alfred is a lot heavier!



As Block 5 has now gone into rehearsal, Dalek Spy has an exclusive video interview with the Director Nick Scovell. Owing to the length of the video and its hosting, it's been split into three parts.

• Exclusive interview with Nick Scovell (Director) Part 1 - will open in a new window
  
• Exclusive interview with Nick Scovell (Director) Part 2 - will open in a new window
• Exclusive interview with Nick Scovell (Director) Part 3 - will open in a new window
  

UPDATE: The audio sync problem seems to be vastly improved now that I've re-edited the interview into three files as opposed to the original two.

200 not out!

Just to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that has taken an interest in my blog about the play. This weekend it has now had over 200 people come and read it.

Please continue to come back on a regular basis and enjoy all the exclusive info and gossip of what's been going on - especially as the video interviews have now launched. Rehearsal updates are normally published by Saturday and Tuesday evenings (UK time).

Once again, thanks.

On with the motley...

Well I was wrong! Last night (September 21) didn't see us having another run at Block 3. Instead we went straight into Block 4, which is the start of Act Two! Owing to one of the principals being rather ill some of Block 4 was dropped back until next week and we went on into Block 5. It's all coming together now, I can tell you.

There was a major surprise, but if I tell you then I'd not only have to kill you but also kill myself, for us as well. You're in for a treat!



Dalek Spy has got three major bits of behind the scenes news for you this time round. There's three little words from Block 4, an exclusive video interview with James George (who's playing Mavic Chen) and a couple of photos, so sit down, relax and enjoy!

• treachery
• hostile
• colonised

• Exclusive interview with James George (Mavic Chen) - will open in a new window

• Nick Scovell (the Doctor), Tim Skedge (Bret Vyon) and Laura Ford (Sara Kingdom)
• Part of a Dalek

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Video interviews coming...

Dalek Spy is proud to announce that as part of its mission to bring you exclusive behind the scenes material it will be recording special video interviews with some of the cast and crew.

There's already been a few video sneak peeks posted, but these will be delving further into the production side.

The first interviewee will be James George, who plays Mavic Chen. This will be recorded this week and be available this weekend - probably September 23. Future interviews will hopefully include:

• Nick Scovell, as the director and script adaptation and a second one discussing his fourth outing as the Doctor
• Martin Johnson, composer
• Stuart Currie and Ashley Nealfuller, Dalek builders
  

So don't forget to check back and catch up with what's going on.

Act One nearly complete

Block 3 started yesterday (September 17) and it also saw us finish Act One. There was minimal work necessary for the Daleks this time, so I had chance to sit back and watch what was going on.

After last week and the difficulty of trying to amend a script while fully encased I performed topless... just using the base of the Dalek in other words! I was whizzing around like some demented Davros and having a lot of fun.

Although there was a lot of stopping and starting to make sure that this set of scenes worked, we did manage to not only finish this Block but have a complete run through as well. This will bode well for Friday's rehearsal as it means we can have a clear stab at possibly the whole of Act One.

There was a lengthy, if slightly innuendo laden, conversation about being blown or sucked... in the end an amend was made to the script to resolve this rather tricky area of physics! I was also able to offer some input as well. At one point it's necessary for one of the characters to explain which communications channel to use. Some discussion was held on this and I suggested "theta", as in Theta Sigma the Doctor's nickname that was revealed in The Armageddon Factor. Thanks to Nick for allowing me that one.



Here's three little words from Block 3:

• geologist
• surge
• theta - mentioned above, but if I gave you another one it would be four words!

More chance for photos this time round as well:

• John-Paul McCrohon (Steven Taylor) and Helen Stoddart (Katarina Taylor) show how to take it easy while acting
• Nick Scovell (The Doctor) takes special interest in his pen… or is it?
• Laura Ford (Sara Kingdom) receives her orders
• James George (Mavic Chen) gives those orders
• David Bickerstaff (Marc Cory) gets to grips with Katarina

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Block 2 now complete

With Block 2 now completed in rehearsals, of which there were only a couple of pages to finish off, we had a full run of everything to date so far last night (September 14). We're now nearing the end of Act One and it's polishing up very nicely indeed.

To make it easier during the final part of the Block 2 material for me to amend my script I performed with only two thirds of my costume - just the skirt and shoulders. This was much better than trying to not only hear what changes were being made but write in a cramped space as well.

After quite a few times inside a Dalek, one thing I do know is that it does get very hot. What I have done (see the photo below) is to get myself a small clip-on fan that is then attached to the inside and which I can turn on and off as necessary. Not only that, but I've also found space for a small bottle of water. Groucho is now very much my home from home!



Three little words from Block 2:

• murderous
• arrogance
• guilty

It's getting more difficult to get photos as I'm in more and more scenes at the moment, but here's some special ones...

• The relative comfort of inside a Dalek - note the bottle of water and clip-on fan!
• Part of a Dalek
• Essential footwear for a Dalek - my David Tennant red Converse trainers!

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Welcome to my unconventional conventionalists

As with last year's production, this year will see another mini-convention on the Saturday featuring (work commitments permitting) cast and crew from both the original and new Doctor Who.

Confirmed are:

• Nick Briggs - voice of the Daleks (amongst others) in the current series
• Barnaby Edwards - principal Dalek operator in the current series
• David J Howe - historian and collector, who will be the MC for the event
• Peter Labrow - webmaster of the Dalek Links site
• Terry Molloy - Davros from 1984 to 1989 on TV and Big Finish audios
• Rob Shearman - writer of the 2005 episode "Dalek"

This is a fantastic mix of guests, which should provide a fascinating time for all those lucky enough to be coming along.

What's more, I have been asked to coordiante this event!

That means I'll be getting unrestricted access to all the guests (that's my autographs and photos shorted!) throughout the Saturday afternoon. My role will be to make sure that they get to the theatre, are looked after fully once there and to ensure that everything runs smoothly for them.

Who would have thought that from originally being a Dalek I would now have the second entrance at the start of the play, be responsible for the mini-convention and... well, that would be telling at the moment - just wait and see!

Enter... the Daleks!

Today's rehearsal (September 10) saw the arrival of the Daleks! Three were brought along, the two main ones and the Dalek Commander, all of them built by Ashley Nealfuller.

The look and design of them is, at the moment, a closely guarded secret. So I'm sorry that currently I'm unable to post any of the lovely pictures and videos that were taken.

All of them are named after the Marx Brothers and mine is called Groucho. As always, it's a tight fit inside and very warm. However, I've discovered that there's room for a small bottle of water and also a mini sized battery fan - so hopefully I should be ok!

I know that I've been a Dalek before, using the ones that Stuart Currie has built at events, but there was something different this time... a magic quality you could almost say. This time I was a Dalek in Doctor Who!

Due to having to work with the Daleks we didn't get chance to finish all of Block Two so this will be picked up on Friday.



There's a couple of teaser photos today and one of me half in costume.

• Part of a Dalek, but what part?
• Another part of one of the Daleks
• Me being helped to get into Groucho

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Rehearsals start...

Friday (September 7) was the first rehearsal for the play at a secret location in Portsmouth. This was a run through of Block One, which takes us up to the first appearance of the Doctor.

As extra people are needed at the start, for reasons that I can't say, then this is my chance to be seen out of costume (so to speak) as a Dalek. In fact, after David (who is playing Marc Cory) I'm the second person to appear. Excited doesn't even come close to it!

The rehearsal went very well, with lots of laughter and some serious brainstorming to make the scenes flow better. I hope that all the rehearsals will be as much fun as this and look forward to the next one, which will be covering Block Two... and the appearance of the Daleks.



In the tradition of "Production Notes" in "Doctor Who Magazine", Dalek Spy will also be slipping you a selection of words from the script to tease you with. Block One contains:

• steam
• evacuate
• statues

Here's the photos...

• Start of Act One, with me in a Hong Kong Phooey t-shirt
• Nick Scovell (The Doctor) finds David Bickerstaff (Marc Cory) and Helen Stoddart (Katarina Taylor)
• The Doctor checks on Katarina
• Tim Skedge (Bret Vyon) confronts the Doctor

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Going, going, (nearly) gone

Tickets are going fast, with somewhere in the region of 1600 in total now sold.

Most performances are now sold out, as is Saturday's mini-convention.

If you haven't got your ticket yet I strongly urge you to get in touch with the theatre, as this will be the last Doctor Who play that we will be able to stage.

Don't miss out!

All together now...

This week (Monday, September 3) saw the majority of the cast and crew assemble for a full read through of the script before rehearsals start. This was held at the theatre and was a fun evening.

There were some surprise guests as well, including Nick Briggs (who will be voicing the Daleks) and Martin Johnson the composer - who allowed us to listen to the score for the first time, including his kick arse main theme!

Afterwards I chatted to Nick Briggs and found him to be a very decent and sociable guy, what's more he bought me a drink as well! Top bloke as far as I'm concerned.

Also there was Sturat Currie and Ashley Nealfuller who are responsible for building the Daleks. Ashley had some photos showing the design and colours... which are a secret at the moment.

An enjoyable evening that helped everyone get thogether ahead of the rehearsald proper that start on Friday (September 7).



Dalek Spy has got some tasty treats for you! First up is a short video showing Nick Briggs in full flow as the voice of the Daleks.

• Nick Briggs voicing the Daleks - will open in a new window

Next up are three photos, these were taken on the stage and the lighting was the best so apologies for the quality.

• Cast and crew, with Nick Briggs voicing the Daleks
• Cast and crew
• Nick Scovell provides direction

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window

Lights, camera, action!

Yesterday (September 1) I found just how much time and effort is required to capture a small amount of filmed footage.

Parts of the play rely on the use of specially shot video footage that will be shown on a large screen at certain key moments. This was shot at the New Theatre Royal on the stage using the old Doctor Who favourite... CSO!

A large blue screen was erected to allow the actors to be filmed against a neutral background so that in post production this could be removed and replaced with the necessary special effects.

It was very interesting to watch as this was the first time that I had been on a proper shoot, let alone one involving effects work. What I didn't realise was that to get the 15 minutes or so required would take close on three hours. Even allowing for some multiple takes, the time was eaten away by constantly having to check and adjust the lighting levels for each section that was recorded. I can see why it takes nine moths to record a single season of Doctor Who!



Yes, Dalek Spy was also there and can give you exclusive access to some video footage showing Sara Kingdom (Laura Ford) and the Doctor (Nick Scovell) doing some blue screen work. The scene was recorded twice, once for sound with them screaming and a second time with the fan (as seen here) for interaction.

• Sara Kingdom and the Doctor - will open in a new window

There's also some photos as well, please note that the quality is not great as they were taken inbetween the filming so there is a lot of wash out from the lighting.

• Mavic Chen, played by James George
• Bret Vyon, played by Tim Skedge
• Sara Kingdom, played by Laura Ford
• Mavic Chen and the Doctor, played by Nick Scovell, face off

Click on an image for a larger version in a new window