Doctor Who Up Close

The South Wales Echo reports that the city of Cardiff will be hosting a new, free exhibition based on Doctor Who starting next week, Thursday 22 December. "Doctor Who Up Close, based at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay, celebrates the success of the latest series filmed in the capital with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. The experience, which will cost the council £150,000 to stage, links into areas such as modern story-telling, script-writing, acting, costume design, sound and music, special effects, set construction and creative thinking. Visitors entering the display will be surrounded by a retrospective, outlining the 40-year lineage of the series and have the opportunity to view the previous incarnations of the Doctors. Among the attractions visitors can view is the Doctor’s arch enemies, the Daleks, in both their modern form and a unique example of their original 1960s design, as well as elements focusing on many other classic characters. After it is screened on Christmas Day, visitors will also get the chance to see elements of the Christmas special with some of the new props and costumes. BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards said: 'Doctor Who is a huge success and I'm delighted that we can help to bring this exciting exhibition to people in Cardiff. It’s a great opportunity to go behind the scenes and get a sense of what goes into making Doctor Who.' Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman said: 'As a big fan of Doctor Who myself, particularly the new version made right here in Cardiff, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to visit the new exhibition. It will be an exciting insight into the behind the scenes goings on of the series over the years.' An official opening ceremony is being staged on December 21 with the public able to visit the exhibition from the following day. It runs until February 26 and is open every day between 11am and 8pm, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day."