Tag: First Doctor

Hosts and guests on stage for the recording of Splendid Chaps: One/Authority.

One/Authority

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss William Hartnell and the notion of “Authority” in the first live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at the Bella Union in Melbourne on Sunday, January 13, 2013. With special guests Lee Zachariah, Nerida Haycock and designer of the original Cybermen, Alexandra Tynan. Plus musical guest Geraldine Quinn performs her original song “Dr Who’s Assistant” – specially updated from the original 2007 version!

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The One/Authority (retroactive) viewing list

Hi all! Only a couple of days to go before our first live show episode becomes available – and so we’re getting in just in time to give you a list of viewing for the First Doctor and the theme of Authority, as requested by a few people on our Facebook page. (We’re nothing if not responsive to your suggestions.)

For the First Doctor, we’d suggest the following three stories for a taste:

  • An Unearthly Child (though we won’t mind too much if you skip the last three episodes, aka “Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Cavemen!”)
  • The Time Meddler
  • The War Machines

As an extra post-recording bonus, you may also wish to watch the stories we most talk about: The AztecsThe Keys of Marinus, The Romans and The Gunfighters. Oh, and special extra credit for watching The Tenth Planet – though if you have a copy of that final episode, please do share it with the world, won’t you?

For the theme of “Authority”, our five picks are:

  • Day Of The Daleks (Jon Pertwee, 1972)
  • Genesis Of The Daleks (Tom Baker, 1975)
  • Snakedance (Peter Davison, 1983)
  • The Waters Of Mars (David Tennant, 2009)
  • The Pandorica Opens (Matt Smith, 2010)

Keeping these lists to just five is killing us, but really, we can’t ask you to watch more than that. Let us know what other stories you think fit the theme in the comments!

One/Authority (live show)

On the 23rd of November, 1963, something extraordinary began. A strange young woman arouses concern in her teachers, who follow her home to discover she lives in a police box with her Grandfather, an imperious old man known only as “the Doctor” – and in whose Ship, the TARDIS, they are whisked away on adventures throughout time and space.

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!). This very first instalment takes us all the way back to the First Doctor, William “Billy” Hartnell. One[ref]For brevity’s sake, many fans refer to each Doctor by number, instead of the old form “The First Doctor”.[/ref] is a cranky old dude who kidnapped and electrocuted his first companions to protect himself and his Granddaughter, places their lives and his own in danger to satisfy his curiosity, and who delights in putting the boot into conquerors and invaders. It’s this anti-authoritarian sentiment – and the air of authority he projects – that inspired us to take “Authority” as our first theme.

Hosts Ben McKenzie and John Richards and narrator and companion Petra Elliott are joined by our special guest panellists: writer and filmmaker Lee Zachariah (The Bazura Project (ABC2), Hell Is For Hyphenates podcast); broadcaster and host of 3RRR FM’s LiveWireNerida Haycock; and costume designer of the original 1966 Cybermen, Alexandra Tynan (aka Sandra Reid). Plus performance guest, comedian and cabaret performer Geraldine Quinn.

Space: The Annexe, Bella Union, Trades Hall, corner of Victoria and Lygon streets, Melbourne
Time: Sunday, January 13; bar and box office open at 4 PM, show starts at 5 PM (no latecomers admitted until intermission)
Tickets:
 $15 full price, $12 concession (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: bellaunion.com.au or at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast:One/Authority” released 23rd of January, 2013.