It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for...

So this was it, Saturday evening (October 27) and the final performance.

It was a very strange feeling backstage, not just because this was the last show, but also it was the end of an era. Some of the cast and crew had worked on Nick Scovell's stage adaptations since "The Web Of Fear" back in 2000. For them it was definately the final chapter in the book. For others, like myself who had only been in this play, it was still sad that all those months of hard work and the final week of rehearsals of then the shows had come to an end.

With a heavy heart, as the music thundered round the theatre, I walked onto the stage for the last time. It was strange, doing what I'd done four times before but knowing that this was the last time. The performance just flew by, rushing off stage to get changed and then into my Dalek and back on amid the smoke. Before I knew it the Doctor had saved the Universe, been forced to regenerate and we were taking our bows.

Then it was all over.



Dalek Spy was still snapping away at the last show for you...

• Lorna Bailey (Dalek Commander) with the Science Daleks, talks to a member of the audience
  

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

All good things...

As they say, all good things must come to an end and this was the last day that we would be performing the play. With just two performances left everyone was still buzzing, but there was a certain sadness starting to creep through.

There was a tight turn around after the mini-convention to make sure that everything was all set for the matinee. In fact I had about 30 minutes or so to have something to eat, change and get ready.

The performance went wonderfully well, as always, and there were plenty of laughs where we wanted them and yet again Stuart Currie's Supreme Dalek received a huge round of applause when it entered, let alone the gasps of delight as the middle section spun round at the end.

It took just as long to get through everyone who wanted to come onto the stage at the end, but time was even more tight as we needed to prep for our final ever performance...



Sneaking into the dressing rooms before the matinee, Dalek Spy was able to snap the following before being thrown out.

• Phil Cottrill (Governor Trantis) shows just hypnotic he can be!
  

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

Return Of The Daleks

Saturday (October 27) saw a two hour mini-convention called "Return Of The Daleks", which I was responsible for organising and running, along with tons of help from Producer Rob Thrush and Stage Manager Dave Tozer.

This took place before the matinee performance and involved me getting together our guests and ensuring that the whole event ran smoothly. I do believe that I managed this rather well, if the very kind comments from people both on the day and over on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum (see the link to the right) are anything to go by.

The MC for the event was noted Who historian David J Howe and our guests were:

• Nick Scovell - our old Doctor and the man behind the play
• Rob Thrush - the show's producer
• Peter Labrow - from Dalek Links website (see the link to the right)
  
• Rob Shearman - writer of 2005's TV episode "Dalek" and some of the Big Finish stories
• Barnaby Edwards - principal Dalek operator in the current series
• Nick Briggs - our new Doctor and Dalek voices for both the play, the TV series and Big Finish
  
• Terry Molloy - Davros throughout the 1980s on TV and now for Big Finish

While waiting back stage with Rob and Barnaby before they went on, we chatted away and I heard stories that would make your hair curl!

It was a really great event and at the end we not only had chance for a Q&A time from the floor, but also a charity auction in aid of the hospice where David Tennant's mother worked and was cared for before her death. We had various items, including a signed photo of Jon Pertwee, props from the play and items signed by members of the original TV series. Our star item was a giant poster for the play signed by all the cast and crew along with cast and crew from 1960s Who, which went for £300! Once I have the final figure of how much was raised, I'll let you all know.

At the end we had time to let the 400 or so people attending (which was a sell out itself) chance to come down and get autographs of our guests. Everything ran very smmothly and stayed nicely on schedule, although the autograph time was a little pushed as we needed enough time afterwards to set the stage for the matinee. However, everyone went away happy and with their items signed.

Thank you to our guests for giving up their their time to help us, to everyone who came along and enjoyed it and to the cast, crew and theatre staff who helped.

Oh, my biggest fanboy moment happened after I met our guests at the hotel. Barnaby and Rob walked round to the theatre, but I got a lift with Terry. How cool - me in a car with Davros! I did (sadly) say this to him and was treated to his Davros voice. Thanks Terry, you made an old fan very happy with that!



Dalek Spy has got both video and photo treats for you from the event. First up is the opening title sequence for the mini-convention, with music by Martin Johnson, and then there's some pictures.

• Return Of The Daleks opening title sequence - will open in a new window

There's also some photos for you to look at as well - who says I don't treat you?

• Backstage with (left to right) Nick Scovell, Terry Molloy, Rob Shearman and Peter Labrow
• On stage with (left to right) David J Howe, Nick Briggs, Rob Shearman, Barnaby Edwards, Peter Labrow and Nick Scovell
  
• Autograph time with (top to bottom) Terry Molloy, Barnaby Edwards, Nick Briggs, Rob Shearman, Peter Labrow and Nick Scovell
  

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

Third time lucky!

Friday (October 26) was a manic day to say the least!

I arrived at the theatre early afternoon to drop off my stuff and then went to meet Peter Labrow and Martin, a friend of his. Peter was one of guests who would be at Saturday's mini-convention and I wanted chance to meet him and have a chat before the madness of Staurday. We all spent an enjoyable hour or so chatting away, with Peter recounting some very good stories. Sadly out time was cut short when I had a call from the hotel where some of the otehr guests were staying at. Rob Shearman, writer of 2005's "Dalek" episode had arrived and there was a bit of a mix up. Thankfully the hotel is close to the theatre so I went round there to sort it all out. On my way back I bumped into Rob, who had just popped out to the Co-op! I apologised for the mix up and we both went in to theatre and I showed round a bit and he had chance to kindly sign some CD and DVD inlays for me.

It was then time to get ready for that evening's show and this time I was determined that when the Doctor extracted my DNA we would use a combintaion of the effects from the previous two shows. As it's now happened I can talk about it all! On the first night I shuddered and swung my dome, the second night we had a head that came apart just below the dome and lifed up. Third nightwe hit it right! As the Doctor uses his Sonic Screwdriver to open me up, there is a sound effect as well. Using this as my cue I shuddered, turned my ears on and then swung my dome to the right. As the Doctor walked over I then lifted the head up so he could reach inside to remove the Dalek's DNA. When he was done, the Doctor then taps the dome, making the head go down, the dome wing back and the ears turn off. Perfection! According to Ashley Nealfuller, who built the Dalek and the special head, this worked the best so we kept it this was for Saturday's two performances as well.

After the show, I noticed Barnaby Edwards lurking in the crowd. He'd arrived at the hotel earlier and had popped along after the show to see us. I got him up on stage to meet Stuart Currie, who not only built the Supreme Dalek but was also inside operating it as well. Barnaby was very impressed with Stuart's work, which was all done in his garage in spare evenings and weekends. In fact, I think that Barnaby may ven have wanted to take it away and show how someone had managed to build a rotating middle section for real!

After we had cleared the theatre, a lot of us went to the bar for a well needed drink. I spent a very enjoyable hour or so chatting with James George (Mavic Chen) and Rob Shearman, who had also come along after the preformance. Rob is a great guy and it's so easy to get caught up in conversation with him and to listen to his fascinating insights into Doctor Who.

The best thing about this performance was that a friend's 13 year old daughter who, thanks to NuWho is now a big fan of all Doctor Who, was coming along. For the last near year that I've know about the play and been working on it, I'd kept it all secret from her. I had said that we'd go along and see it and got the tickets. On the day I called her and said I couldn't make it, but her Dad had the tickets and would take her. She was certainly surprised when at the start of the play she saw me walk onto the stage. An even bigger shock was when her Dad told her that I was in a Dalek and pojted out which one. She enjoyed the show greatly and I am officially, "The best person in the whole world... ever!" I'd also like to thank all the cast and crew who kindly signed a programme for her, which she loves.



Dalek Spy was lurking about the stage and in the bar after the show to snap these treats for you.

• People up on stage enjoy photos with the Daleks while Barry Thorpe (Scenic Operator) stands guard
  
• Stuart Currie (Supreme Dalek builder and operator) with Barnaby Edwards (TV's Dalek opeartor)
  
• In the bar afterwards - clockwise from far left is David Bickerstaff (Marc Cory), Nick Scovell (the old Doctor), Nick Briggs (Dalek voices and the new Doctor), Barnaby Edwards, Rob Shearman (TV and Big Finish author) and James George (Mavic Chen)
  

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

++ ACCESS DENIED ++

Just to let you all know that I haven't forgotten to keep you all up to date.

I've only just got back in after Friday's show and I'm now off to bed as I have a very full day of running the mini-convention and then being in two shows.

This means that the blog will not be updated until Sunday (October 28) at the earliest. Don't panic though! I promise you that when I next add what's been going on it will include Friday's show, the mini-con, both of Saturday's shows and the wrap party.

I'll start on Sunday and do some, then finish it off Monday. As previously promised there will also be new content, including photos and videos, being added over the next few weeks as well.

For those that have been and see the show - thank you very much and I hope you enjoyed it. If you're still to come to it... hold on, as it'll be the trip of a lifetime!

Let's do the Time Warp again...

So, second night - was it any different? I think it's fair to say not really, just as manic and full of nerves.

Nick Scovell did warn us that it can dip a bit on the second night, owing to the fact that we've had the first performance and this can result in a slight drop off. However, I was just as nervous as before while we waited in the wings ready to go on. That's not a bad thing either, as it helped to keep my performance going. I was reading a text message from a friend, that arrived just as I walked on, during the crowd scene as well!

The dome trick was certainly done differently as well, thanks to the efforts of Ashley Nealfuller who built the Dalek. I would say more, but I don't want to give out any spoilers for those that haven't seen the show yet.

Later today (October 26) I'm going to be meeting one of the mini-convention guests, Peter Labrow from the Dalek Links website, to have a coffee and chat about things ahead of tomorrow's event.



Dalek Spy can reveal that Nick Briggs has kindly offered to be interviewed for this very blog. There will also be another interview with the creative force that is Nick Scovell, this time talking about his role as the Doctor. Both of these should hopefully be shot today and be online towards the end of next week... as they may contain spoilers!

A couple of photos for you taken after the show from the Dress Circle, sorry for the poor quality.

• Martin Johnson (Composer) waves hello with Doug Inman (Scenic Operator), to his left, doing his security routine
  
• Nick Briggs (Dalek voices) talks to a young fan
  

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

What a magnificent opening!

What can I say - we've done it!

Last night (October 24) was totally magical, as we performed to a packed house - even the standing room tickets had gone. We were told at about six o'clock that the four very last tickets ever, which were for Friday, had just been snapped up. So we know that every performance is now a total sell out.

For those that came / will be coming please enjoy the special cast posters that are outside the theatre's entrance and also inside upstairs. Each one show a character with a quote from the play. In the space of two weeks I created 11 of these and they look beautiful printed up. Once the show is over then I'll add copies here so you can see all of them.

The nerves did set in yesterday with me! I had a shaken up stomach and was sick once before I left for the theatre in the early afternoon. Nerves - I knew you'd get me in the end!

Getting ready, we all sat and chatted in the dressing rooms, with Nick Briggs coming out with some very funny stories to keep us amused.

It was very strange waiting backstage for the final call (five minutes before we first go on) and I just wanted to get out there. With just a minute before I walked on, I hit a calm zone which is what helped me go on and get through it all.

As far as I could tell, everything went very well last night - we'll find out tonight if there were any problems. I do know that I slightly fluffed a couple of bits as my Dalek. This wasn't helped by the fact that my gun, which is meant to do something special when it fires, suddenly wouldn't work correctly and this threw me a bit. Overall though, I was very happy with my performance.

I did err big style though, which made it difficult for me. At the point when the Doctor does something to me in Act Two I swung my dome round and had to stay still. Foolishly I swung to the left which meant my head was nearly squashed between the back of the dome and the arm inside that works the eye! Tonight, it'll go to the right as there's more room.

At half time, myself, Lorna and Liam sat out back with only our domes off and got some air... I had a mug of tea and a large cookie as well! We missed out on all the fun (if there could be any without us) in the dressing rooms.

After the show the stage was opened up, for a donation, for people to come onto and have a picture taken with the Daleks. The queue was very long, but it all went off smoothly. Finally, we all retired to the bar and sat there talking about Doctor Who in general. We did find out what all our first memories of the show were and Martin Johnson (the composer) won with the most recent - 1988's "Remembrance of the Daleks"! Grief, I was 18 then... made me feel old!

I got home before turning into a pumpkin at just before midnight. For some reason I then decided to heat up a chilli and eat that!

Well, here we go again tonight and I've got about 25 people from Portsmouth City Council that I know and work with coming to see it... no added pressure then!

Can you see me?

I thought that you might like to know when to spot me on stage. Here's a few pointers as to when you'll see me. I can't tell you all of them, as it'll give certain plot details away.

Act One

• Second person to walk onto the stage (not as a Dalek here!)
• Second Dalek that enters when they first appear
• Dalek that keeps the Doctor covered when he appears at our base
• Last Dalek to exit towards the end
  

Act Two

• Second Dalek that enters
• Lone Dalek with Mavic Chen when he meets the Doctor on Kembel
  

It's the final countdown

Another delayed start for our last rehearsal on Tuesday (October 23) unfortunately. We did manage a full technical run of both Act One and Act Two and didn't have to stop at any point, which was really good.

What didn't help was that as the Daleks were backstage ready for Act Two, we got told that our entrance was going to be different - but not what it was! It wasn't until we appeared and did what we had been doing that Nick Scovell ran over and told us the change. We were able to fit this in without any disruption to what was happening at that point.

I'll have to go in extra early tomorrow as there as some adjustments to my Dalek, for plot reasons, that still have to be made and then tested.

Curtain up (although the New Theatre Royal doesn't actually have a curtain!) is 7.30pm, so everyone must be there by no later than 6.30pm.

This is it - it's real and it's happening!



Time for another interview, this time with the composer of the score - Martin Johnson. Please note that this was filmed in low-light conditions and at the moment this is the best quality I can get. I will attempt to get a clearer version online as soon as I can.

• Exclusive interview with Martin Johnson (Composer) - will open in a new window

Technically not a rehearsal...

Monday (October 22) saw what was meant to be a full technical run through of the whole play... well, that's what had been planned at least.

Due to the amount of time needed to set the lighting cues for Act One, along with several other problems, all we had time for was a partial run of Act One instead. This will now put the pressure on us for Tuesday, which will be a full dress and technical run and the last chance we have to get it all right before we open on Wednesday.

A couple of things that certainly didn't help were the cloud of smoke that is used for the entrance of the Daleks and a visibility issue.

First off the smoke. All the Daleks sit backstage ready to come on and before the main door is opened to allow this a load of smoke is generated to help mask the fact that a door has opened - it's an impressive entrance to say the least. However, stuck in a confined waiting and sitting inside a Dalek, all that smoke has no where to go... except up inside the casing! So as we entered we were filled with smoke, which brings me onto the second problem.

To make it harder for people to look though the neck section and see the person inside, there is an outer layer of mesh and an inner layer of gauze, all black. In rehearsals, with no smoke and more lighting, it wasn't a problem to see where you were going. Suddenly we have to get onto the stage and hit our marks and we can hardly see a thing. The solution is to remove some of the inside gauze, although this does mean that it may now be possible for people to see us. Ashley Nealfuller, who has built these particular Daleks, is on the case and is working out a way to keep the gauze but have it as strips so it's harder to see in but easy to see out. Last thing we want is a Dalek falling off the stage! This is just one of the many jobs that Ashley has to do to get everything with the Daleks up to scratch before we open and I don't envy him one little bit.



Dalek Spy was able to sneak into the dressing room and snap a few of the props.

• Something that's green and glows... can't be good
  
• The front of a futuristic communications device
  
• The inside display screen of the same device

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

Time is counting down

Sunday (October 21) saw us meeting at the Third Floor Arts Centre, above the central library, for a full run through of the play.

Present for the start of show week was Nick Briggs, who is supplying the Dalek voices. I think that by having him there it was starting to make it all a bit more real and it dawned on me that this was it!

Exciting as this was, it was dampened a bit by the fact that I'd quite ill the day before and might had to have missed this rehearsal. Thankfully I was feeling much better come Sunday morning and I performed most of the rehearsal domeless so I had a bit more air.

After we finished, while the Daleks were being wheeled down the street towards the theatre, I stayed behind and chatted to the two Nicks (Briggs and Scovell) - which was very enjoyable.



Dalek Spy is back from a short break with some photos taken from Sunday's rehearsal for you.

• Some of the cast and crew
  
• Some more of the cast and crew
  
• Nick Briggs (Dalek voices) in full rant mode, on the right, with Bruce Holman (Deputy Stage Manager)
  

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

We must act now... part 2

Last Friday's rehearsal (October 19) was where we had two complete runs at the second act and it's all fitted together very nicely.

On a side note, during the week it had been James Adamson's (Steven Taylor) birthday and to celebrate he brought along the Tenth Doctor / TARDIS cake to be shared out. Needless to say, they was some discussion over who would be eating which bit of Mr Tennant! I settles for his face, while someone else (who will remain nameless) opted for the groin!

James, as I mentioned before, has stepped in very late in the day to take over the part of Steven. I'd just like to say that in the last two weeks he's been with us, he's done exceptionally well to learn the script and bring a polished performance.

Sunday (October 21) sees the final rehearsal before we hit the theatre for dress and technical runs. It'll also be when Nick Briggs joins us to bring his necessary vocal talents.

LINKing the play... part 2

Recently I told you about an item run in the staff magazine for Portsmouth City Council (see LINKing the play... part 1) where there was a brief interview with me and the chance to win two tickets to the play.

The closing date was this week and after we sifted through the enteries to make sure that they all had the correct answers, the draw took place. We were assisted by two Daleks for this event.

You can see the Daleks picking the winner, click on the image for a larger version in a new window.

We must act now... part 1

So that's Act One fully polished off now and Friday (October 19) will see us having two full runs at Act Two. We then get Saturday off before moving to a secret location in the centre of Portsmouth (not the theatre) for a full run on Sunday.

Apart from missing my mark at one point (oops) and mis-flashing (double oops) it all went very well.

When are these nerves meant to start? I've got a feeling that I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat on Wednesday morning (October 24) - the day we open...



First off, the previously available interview with Stuart Currie that was online and then removed owing to technical problems is back! The easiest way to solve the problems was to reshoot it, so here it is:

• Exclusive interview with Stuart Currie (Dalek builder) Part 1 - will open in a new window
• Exclusive interview with Stuart Currie (Dalek builder) Part 2 - will open in a new window

There's also some photos for you to look at as well - who says I don't treat you?

• A very important piece of paper with drawings on it, but what is it?
  
• Anthony Dry's excellent design for the cast and crew t-shirts, based on the old Target book covers by Chris Achilleos

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

From the pen of Nick Scovell...

Nick Scovell has recently added some thoughts on the production of the play over at the Dalek Links site, which you can find using the following link. It also features photos as supplied by Dalek Spy.

• So it begins... - will open in a new window

You can also read a bit more about the play at the site here:

• Going behind the scenes for The Dalek Masterplan - will open in a new window

Less than two weeks to go

Yesterday's rehearsal (October 12) went very well.

We had a complete run of the entire play and it's really pulling together now. It was also the first time that the scenic operators had chance to be with us, so they could be blocked in around the action taking place.

This has meant a few tweaks for the actors, including one entrance for the Daleks. Instead of moving to the front of the stage from different parts of the stage, we move together first. Now this may seem like a little thing, but it can throw you out when for the last six weeks you've been ensuring that you keep your mind focused on what's been decided.

Next week sees the final set on rehearsals at our secret location before we have the dress and technical runs at the theatre. I'm still not nervous and I don't know if this is a good thing or not... time will tell.

All change

It was all a little hectic tonight as word reached us that John-Paul McCrohon who was playing Steven Taylor will not be able to be involved anymore due to personal reasons. Stepping into the breach at the last minute is James Adamson, so he was given a whirlwind introduction and we then ploughed into the end of Act Two followed by the entrance of the Daleks in Act One and finished with the very beginning of the play. Talk about jumping around!

We also welcomed other new people who will be used in the crowd scene at the start and will be swelling the numbers of the delegates later on.

With just over two weeks until we open, it's all starting to come together very nicely. My nerves still haven't set in... yet.



Due to technical difficulties with the interview, I've removed the links and it will be online again next week.

You can now find the interview on the October 16 post "We must act now... part 1".

Even more lines to learn!

Now this may sound like a complaint, but I can promise you that it isn't (doesn't even sound convincing)!

Thanks to some changes during Act One, not only do I now have to jig about a lot more but I've got even more lines to learn! All this with less than three weeks to go - panic has yet to arrive but I'm sure it will very soon.

Due to the fact that Alfred need some repair work during the week, both my gun and sucker were missing for rehearsals. This was a boon to the extent that I got more air inside the casing and it wasn't as hot. It also allowed me to take some photos thorugh my holes... as so to speak.



Vitally secret snappings this time round, including one taken while I was fully encased:

• Laura Ford (Sara Kingdom) taken through the sucker port
  
• Very English - a table full of tea making equipment...
  
• ...and lots of sweet things to keep me hyper
  

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

More tickets available

The good news is that there's now more tickets available for each performance. Owing to a switch round of where the theatre has their sound desk, extra seats have been made available.

So if you haven't got a ticket yet, now's your chance... inlcuding for the last night.

LINKing the play... part 1

When I'm not busy being a Dalek, I work as the Website & e-Communications Officer for Portsmouth City Council. A while back I published an article on our Intranet which caused a run on tickets (see Tickets selling out... from June 7).

The lastest issue of our staff magazine, LINK, has just been published and the back page is devoted to an interview with me about being a Dalek in the play. We've also run this issue's competition to tie in with the play by offering a pair of free tickets to the winner.

Our graphic designer used the Daleks from the play's poster and has added them to the outside of the New Theatre Royal.

You can see the Dalek article from LINK by clicking on the image for a larger version in a new window.

You can find out about the drawing of the winner at LINKing the play... part 2.

A new month... at last

Yesterday was the start of not only a new month, but also the start of the countdown towards opening night on the 24th.

After completing the end of Block 6 we had a run through of Act One. Actually, it was done several times as it was split into sections and each section was run twice. As I've already mentioned this was harder as we couldn't rely on our scripts. I was just glad that my Dalek can have a small fan fitted inside to keep me cool and that there's room for a bottle of water. The last few weeks I've been in the base only but I was fully encased this week and will continue to be so from now on.

The highlight of the evening, for me at least, was getting exterminated by a Dalek. I'd like to tell you more but you know how much I've got to keep secret!

I'll make you all a firm promise that once the play has had its run then I will post more photos and videos from rehearsals that I'm not at liberty to do so at the moment.



Just the one image this time round, Nick Scovell (the Doctor) survives after Phil Cottrill (Governor Trantis) has been exterminated.

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