Costumes Special – The Doctor Who Experience

  I’m back! And as a special treat for you all (before I get back to blogging Japanese haikyo, yokai and costumes) here’s something decidedly English for you.

I had the good fortune to be able to stop by the Doctor Who Experience in London while I was passing through and snap a few pictures of the classic costumes and creatures on display there.

The ‘experience’ is divided into two parts a mini-adventure guided by the current Doctor (Matt Smith) via a series of special video appearances. Apparently he’s gone and got himself locked in another Pandorica (‘They had a spare.’ he laments), so it’s up to us to save him, by running around lots of corridors and themed rooms such as – an intergalactic museum, TARDIS interior, a dalek mother ship and so on. The climax of this is donning 3D specs for a trip down the time vortex with daleks, cybermen and stone angels all trying to kill you – and this isn’t subtle depth of field 3D, this is ‘Let’s make stuff stick as far out of the screen as possible’ 3D. (Sorry, I couldn’t take pictures of this part)

The second part is the photography friendly (but dimly lit) exhibition, part of which you can see here. Enjoy!

Firstly, the costumes of all the actors to have (officially) played the character since the show started in 1963.

(Left to Right: William Harnell 1963-1966, Patrick Troughton 1966-1969, Jon Pertwee 1970-1974, Tom Baker 1974-1981, Peter Davison 1981-1984)

(Colin Baker 1984-1986, Sylvester McCoy 1987-1989 & 1996, Paul McGann 1996, Christopher Eccleston 2005, David Tennant 2005-2010)

(and, with the TARDIS, Matt Smith 2010 – ongoing)

Being born in 1974 my Doctor is Tom Baker, but I’ve gone back and watched earlier episodes with all the previous incarnations (I’m currently watching some old Pertwee serials) and I still enjoy the show today. In fact I love what Matt Smith is bringing to the character and really rate him as the Doctor. I hope he stays with the show for a few more years.

Next up a couple of TARDIS control rooms and few sonic screwdrivers.

A small selection of companions costumes (almost exclusively post-2005).

Then on to the scary stuff with a few classic series monsters.

Though there were far more post-2005 creatures than classics.

Of course some of the more famous Doctor Who creations have been a constant in both classic and new Who. Such as the Sontarans, …

or Davros and the Daleks.

Perhaps the best indication of how the show has evolved though is this brief history of the Cyber-men.

2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the show, and I’m sure that current show runner Steven Moffat will have something wonderful in store for us then, but right now I’m just eager for September to arrive and the six episodes that will conclude this year’s series. It’s going to be great – trust me!