The end

Thanks to everyone who's visited my blog (and who will visit it), but as you can see there's been no updates for a very long time.

As such, this blog will now become an archive to the memory of this wonderful production.

You'll still be able to follow all the links to videos and photos that are on here, as I won't be removing the content.

And the winner is...

Sadly, the nominations for the play remained as just that. Nick and James both missed out on Best Actor and the play failed to receive Best Amateur Production at this year's Guide Awards.

On a plus note though, James did scoop the award for directing the winning winning play in Best Amateur Production, so I wish him many congratulations.

The lines are closed and the votes are being counted...

Tomorrow (Monday 10 November) sees The Awards take place at The Kings Theatre in Portsmouth. You can see the full details of the nominations in my previous blog entry. I'll be at the awards ceremony and will make sure that a full report is available here before the end of the week.

Nick Scovell (the Doctor) and James George (Mavic Chen) are both nominated in Best Actor and the play is also nominated for Best Amateur Drama Production.

I would also like to apologise that there haven't been any updates for the last few weeks, but I was unexpectedly taken ill and not able to add anything to the blog. I'm a lot better now and will make sure some new content is placed here shortly.

Daleks take control of the Spinnaker Tower!

Just to let you know that there'll be a slight delay in getting the next selection of content up here as I was out as a Dalek at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth today and this has delayed the new content slightly. More content will be available on Tuesday evening (UK time).

Dalek photos aplenty

Dalek Spy has been scouring through the vast amount of photos taken by other members of the cast and crew. Here's a selection by Jonathan Andrews (JA), one of the delegates and a Science Dalek, taken during various rehearsals. There's also a couple by Stuart Currie (SC), builder and operator of the Supreme Dalek, taken on the stage before differnet shows.

• I'm left behind while everyone else goes off for their tea break (JA)
  
• Phil Cottrill (Governor Trantis) examines the new mini Dalek species (JA)
  
• A close up of the beautiful home build of Stuart's Supreme Dalek (JA)
  
• The Supreme Dalek discovers the TARDIS (SC)
  
• The Time Destructor is prepared for its final operation by the Supreme Dalek (SC)
  

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

Daleks, Daleks, Daleks!

This week, Dalek Spy has unearthed photos taken during rehearsals that originally couldn't be released as they featured not only the new colour scheme of the Daleks but also the secret weapon... Stuart Currie's magnificent Supreme Dalek. This amazing and fully realistic recreation of Dalek Sec even had a middle section that could revolve.

• James George (Mavic Chen) faces down the Supreme Dalek
  
• Nick Scovell (the Doctor) and Phil Cottrill (Governor Trantis) don't realise that the Supreme Dalek is still alive
  
• Stuart Currie (Supreme Dalek builder and operator) talks with Nick Scovell and Rob Thrush (Producer)
  
• The four main Daleks - two standard, the red Commander and the black Supreme - the two Science Daleks were still being built
  
• The Hammersmith Hardmen! The Dalek Commander and Supreme Dalek confer
  

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From the video vaults

This week's delights from the archives both feature everyone hard at work during rehearsals.

First off is a video that shows the Daleks at their very first rehearsal from 10 October 2007. This was the first time that we'd had chance to see Ashley's new colour scheme for his Daleks that had previously appeared in the production of "Evil" in 2006. As you can see, Nick Scovell was ahead of Russell T Davies by having a red Dalek in the play months before the TV counterpart was seen!

The second video is an edited version of the final rehearsal of Act One, filmed at the New Theatre Royal by Stuart Currie (the Supreme Dalek himself) on 23 October 2007. This does have some of the music and sound cues on it, although the explosions were small compared to what was used for real.

On a technical note, these videos are now hosted by YouTube, as opposed to Photobucket as with all previous ones. This is mainly due to the fact that I can upload longer videos, although the quality does drop slightly.

• The Daleks in their first rehearsal - will open in a new window


• Final rehearsal of Act One - will open in a new window

The Daleks speak out!

After a long delay, and I apologise for that, I'm proud to announce that new content will be added to this blog. I'll aim to do this once a week, normally at the weekend so that it's available by Sunday evening (UK time).



It's also a return for Dalek Spy! Here's an interview with Nick Briggs, who was the voice of all the Daleks, filmed on the stage of the New Theatre Royal shortly before the performance on 26 October 2007.

• Exclusive interview with Nick Briggs (voice of the Daleks) - will open in a new window

New exclusive content coming this week

Just to let you know that two new exclusive video interviews will be available here on Sunday 28 September. Nick Briggs talks about Daleks and Nick Scovell talks about being the Doctor.

Actors and play nominated for prestigious awards

The Dalek Masterplan is up for two awards.

The daily paper for the Portsmouth area, The News, has included the play and two of its actors among the nominations this year for its prestigious awards that recognise and celebrate the local arts scene.

Nick Scovell (the Doctor) and James George (Mavic Chen) are each nominated in the Best Actor category, while the play itself is among those in the Best Amateur Drama Production section.

The closing date for votes is Friday 10 October and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at the Kings Theatre in Southsea on Monday 10 November.

Vote online here, there are other categories but you don't have to vote in all of them.

I'll keep you posted once the winners are announced.

Character posters now available

For those who were lucky enough to be able to come along to the play, you would have seen some lovely character posters (about A2 size) outside the theatre and others by the entrance to the Dress Circle.

Along with the poster for the play, beautiful as it is I was not involved with this, I thought it would be great to have twelve posters (one for each of the principal cast) showcasing the characters along with a quote of theirs. I quickly knocked up some very rough examples and ran them past Nick Scovell and Rob Thrush. Both of them thought this a great idea and said they would love this. Both Nick and myself did agree though that it would be best to not have one for the Supreme Dalek as this was the big surprise for Act Two.

It was then that I realised that I had about three weeks to produce 11 posters! The main design was simple and was the same across all the posters for consistency. What would take the time was getting photos of each memebr of the cast, and the Daleks, that I could then play with to create the posters.

I am very grateful to Jon Andrews who kindly took all the photos and gave me such great images to start with. In the tradition of Doctor Who, I used CSO! Each person was photographed against a green background so I could key out this colour to make it easier to drop them into the poster template. Although this gave me a problem with the Daleks as the green reflected on their domes. After speaking to Anthony Dry (who did the design for our cast and crew t-shirts) he said that it's best to do Daleks against white. At least I know for another day!

All the photos were taken during the breaks at rehearsals and then Jon would give me a copy of the images the next time. Each week I was doing about three posters and then having to get the final sign-off from Nick, while still learning my lines!

There is a logical flow as well to the posters with regards to the colours that I used. Starting with the Doctor all the heroes use shades of blue and green, while the villains cross to yellows, oranges and reds ending up with the Dalek Commander.

Eventually, with about a week to spare, I finished the last couple and passed them to Rob as he was going to get a set printed. When they were and I saw them up in the theatre, I thought they were fantastic.

Now you've got the chance to get your hands on your own copies! Each image was originally created at an A4 size of 300dpi in CMYK ready for printing, although these are low-res versions under 1Mb each as the originals are each about 8Mb.

Heroes

• The Doctor
  
• Marc Cory
  
• Katarina Taylor
  
• Bret Vyon
  
• Steven Taylor
  
• Sara Kingdom

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

Villains

• Governor Zephon
  
• Governor Trantis
  
• Mavic Chen
  
• The Daleks
  
• Dalek Commander

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

Extermination testing

Stuart Currie, the man behind (and inside!) the Supreme Dalek has posted a short video of him testing the extermination effect using a nearly empty extinguisher, at the theatre before rehearsals. The video also features the Supreme doing a beautiful middle section move as well.

• Supreme Dalek test: YouTube - will open in a new window

Dalek Links site - reviews, photos and music

The Dalek Links has recently been updated by Peter Labrow, one of the mini-convention guests, with loads of stuuf. Use the links below to get access to a review of the play, mini-convention, photos and a special mix of Martin Johnson's score from the play.

• Review of The Dalek Masterplan - will open in a new window
  
• Review of the mini-convention - will open in a new window
• Photo gallery - will open in a new window
• Mix of Martin's music - will open in a new window

P A R T ... Y? 'cause I gotta!

The alcohol flowed, as did the laughter and also the sadness. This was the final end, when we all celebrated the success of the show.

Gathering in the bar first and then turning the Dress Circle into a private area, we waited to hear how well the play had been received. Could it break the records set by last year's production? Simply put, yes it did. Every ticket, for every performance sold in advance of the show opening - as was the mini-convention.

Nick Scovell was presented with a copy of the huge show poster, signed by all the cast and crew and also a host of 60s Doctor Who people, as a thank you for all his efforts with the play. He made a lovely speech where he thanked everyone for all their hard work over the months.

I sat and chatted with many of the cast and crew while we watched the set being broken up on the stage. There was a certain sadness as each part was knocked down and removed, until nothing more than the sweepings remained in the centre of the stage.

Laura Ford (Sara Kingdom) and Jon Andrews (Ensemble / Delegate / Science Dalek) both had people signing their cast t-shirts as a momento, I'd settled with getting a programme signed.

Helen Stoddard (Katarina Taylor) celebrated her birthday and was surprised with a cake, complete with candles.

David Bickerstaff (Marc Cory) was wickedly funny with his jokes and impersonations that evening, and kept quite a few of us in stiches. Although he did have a surprise, maybe even shock, when he found something out about me!

I left at 2am (that's British Summer Time, as the clocks were about to change) to make the short walk home, tired and a little sad but mostly very proud and happy that I had been involved in something so special.

There will still be updates for this blog over the next month, if not two, as I receive copies of videos and photos from the cast and crew. This will also include the exclusive interviews with Nick Scovell and Nick Briggs. In the meantime, I'm off for a well-deserved rest for a week but don't forget to check back shortly.



Dalek Spy was able to blag entrance into the party and took a couple of snaps.

• Rob Thrush (Producer) presents Nick Scovell with a giant signed poster
  
• A final end... all that remained of the set after the knock down, swept into the middle of the stage
  

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

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