behind the sofa

[julesjones]

It was allegedly the last day of the Doctor Who exhibition in Manchester, so kalypso_v and I sallied forth this morning to admire the Whovian props. I say 'allegedly', because the flyer we picked up last month said it finished today. When we got there, the posters in the museum said it finishes first week of January. Well, at least it gave me an incentive to get there today...

It's essentially a decent batch of costumes and props from New Who (including one old-time prop in the form of K-9), plus a souvenir shop which as far as we could see could only be accessed by buying a ticket for the exhibition. Whether it's worth the 6.50 admission is debatable; I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't bother going again unless I was a costumer or model-maker who wanted to be able to look at things close up and in detail in order to reproduce them. For someone in that category living in the Manchester area, it might well be worth a season ticket.

We did examine the "be a Dalek" cutaway Dalek closely to get an idea of various features for future reference, and while doing so were instructed by someone else's Small Child on how to operate the voice system. Small Child clearly felt that nobody's visit could be complete without doing a Dalek voice, and I would have thought exactly the same thing at that age. Alas, I am too old and self-conscious now. The Dalek bit of the display was enormously popular with various Small Children, as was obvious even when we went into the shop. Extermination continued apace, and the noise reverberated around the shop, which was right next to the Dalek display.

The shop was disappointingly free of Captain Jack porn material, but on the other hand they did have a stash of the old Target novelisations at 1.50 a pop. One or two may find their way to Redemption's swag stash, if I don't manage to lose them in the meantime.

On the way back, we stopped at the chip shop to buy lunch, and then stood in a doorway and watched the drizzle as we ate our chips out of the paper parcels. A most excellent way to finish off a morning of reliving our youth...

(And a thought occurs to me -- anyone want to filk "Day trip to Bangor"? As in, "And on the way back, I cuddled with Jack"...)

Comments

[hippo22.livejournal.com]

They've extended it then ; definitely advertised earlier in the year
as finishing around now.

[da-pol.livejournal.com]

Yep - there's posters around the place announcing "Now extended to January 8th" or somesuch.

The exhibition's grown a little too - they've got Season 3 props in as well now.

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

I'd have done the Dalek voice, in a heartbeat. For 6,50? You bet!

Terry

[carl-allery.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't bother going again unless I was a costumer or model-maker who wanted to be able to look at things close up and in detail in order to reproduce them.

LOL, you fair weather fan, you. *g* When the Dr Who exhibition was permanently homed at Longleat (and I was still at school), my best friend and I used to go twice a year. Once in the autumn after the new props from the last season came in and once again around Easter before they changed it. We did this right through to our sixth form and into our university years until she ended up living in London. Sounds pretty similar, just props and costumes, and we used to make sure we had a photo of each and every part of the exhibition in case we needed them for y'know, reference. :) I have no idea how many films I used up on costumes, but there are one or two nice photos despite the scratched plastic screens.

*sigh* memories.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

If it were a larger exhibition with regular changes, then it might be worth it. I think one or two extras had appeared since my previous visit - I don't remember a Weeping Angel first time round - but there's only so many times I'm going to look at Billie Piper's pink frock. The cutaway Dalek was the best exhibit, simply because one could touch it (everything else had "do not touch" signs, though they'd obviously been ignored, as I could see holes in the Slitheen where visitors had prodded them, and the Racnoss wasn't heaving up and down any more). But the Dalek had suffered for it: one of the head lights was missing.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

(And a thought occurs to me -- anyone want to filk "Day trip to Bangor"? As in, "And on the way back, I cuddled with Jack"...)

On;y insofar as to suggest that the chorus should end with: "The column on the TARDIS / Went up and down." It doesn't quite scan, so needs a bit of work, but contains a suitable double entendre.