Following a critically acclaimed run at Salford’s The Lowry Theatre in May 2012, Kill The Beast Theatre’s The Boy Who Kicks Pigs is making its London debut at London’s Jacksons Lane Theatre from 5th March 2013 for 2 WEEKS ONLY.

You may know Tom Baker as the fourth incarnation of The Doctor in Doctor Who, as well as the voice of Little Britain, but he’s also responsible for a blackly comic novel entitled The Boy Who Kicked Pigs – a story that has now leapt off the page to splash bloodily onto the London stage.

The Boy Who Kicked Pigs is a macabre, cult children’s classic about an evil thirteen year old named Robert Caligari; a boy who wants to take over the world, cause deadly mayhem and, for reasons of his own, kick pigs. This March, you’ll have the chance to see the tragedy unfold gloriously in front of your eyes. 

If you know the book, you’ll know the challenges in adapting this maniacal tale - as Tom himself said in his recent newsletter: 

“I wondered how a small theatre company could stage my story - which has a cast of hundreds, and includes a motorway pile-up with coachloads of people. I also wondered how they would manage to make my tale of evil horror funny, as I intended it to be” – if you want to find out, you’ll have to come and see for yourself!

Tickets are available from the Jacksons Lane website. Murderous teens, shark mutilation, a nasty incident with weed-killer cornflakes and a potential apocalypse – dare you come along for the ride?

View the trailer for the production, below:

Reviews:

“Possibly the most well-delivered moment of black humour I have ever seen on stage” - The Public Reviews  *****

“Many deliciously funny moments … Almost constantly, there is laughter throughout.” - What’s On Stage *****

“Distinctive, fully-realised comic characters and a style that carries right through flawlessly from the construction and delivery of the dialogue to the pace of the scene to the whole look of everything: costume, make-up, scenery, projections and physicality.” - The British Theatre Guide 

+  For further information call the Jacksons Lane Theatre Box Office on 020 8341 4421.

+  Follow @Kill_Beast on Twitter.

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter.

[Source: Kill The Beast Theatre]

A new image posted by professional photographer Phoebe Arnstein, shows a reconstructed scene featuring the Classic Series TARDIS Set in Mark Gatiss' upcoming Doctor Who biodrama 'An Adventure In Space And Time'.

The image (pictured-right) features the Classic Series TARDIS control room, with The Doctor (David Bradley), Ian (Jamie Glover), Barbara (Jemma Powell) and Susan (Claudia Grant).

UPDATE - Thursday 21st February @ 11:00am

Another picture has been posted (pictured-right) which appears to be Totters Lane Junkyard.

The confirmed cast list for An Adventure In Space And Time is as follows:

David Bradley as William Hartnell (The first Doctor)
Brian Cox as Sydney Newman (BBC head of drama)
Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert (Doctor Who’s first producer)
Sacha Dhawan as Waris Hussein (Doctor Who’s first director)
Lesley Manville as Heather Hartnell (William’s wife)
Reece Shearsmith as Patrick Troughton (The second Doctor)
Jeff Rawle as Mervyn Pinfield (Doctor Who’s associate producer)
Andrew Woodall as Rex Tucker (BBC producer)
Ian Hallard as Richard Martin (Doctor Who director)
Jamie Glover as William Russell (companion Ian)
Jemma Powell as Jacqueline Hill (companion Barbara)
Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford (the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan)
Sarah Winter as Delia Derbyshire (musician at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop)
William Russell (the original Ian Chesterton) as Harry
Reece Pockney as Alan

+  An Adventure In Space And Time is due to be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

[Source: Instagram (pap_d); Ian O' Brien]

Reece Shearsmith has been confirmed as playing Patrick Troughton in Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who biodrama 'An Adventure In Space And Time'.

The confirmation, comes from Radio Times, with Mark Gatiss explaining the casting:

“I first asked Reece about 12 years ago when I started thinking about this project. We were in the midst of League of Gentlemen and I just remember thinking, if anyone plays Patrick Troughton, it should be Reece. Like the second Doctor, he’s small, saturnine and a comic genius. The complete package. He thought it was a fantastic idea and I’ve kind of nurtured it all this time.

Reece has a funny relationship with Doctor Who – mostly to do with impressions of the Borad from Timelash! He and a friend were obsessed with Season 22 [Colin Baker’s Doctor, 1985]. One of my earliest memories of Reece is him going, ‘I am the Borad!’ He’ll do the whole of Timelash at the drop of a hat. Which is a strange qualification. He’s not steeped in Doctor Who like I am, but has been lightly dipped over the years. I know he’s delighted to be a part of An Adventure in Space and Time.”

Reece Shearsmith, speaking to DWO via Twitter, said:

"Very excited to be part of it."

At 43, Shearsmith is only three years younger than Patrick Troughton was when he took on the role as The Doctor. Shearsmith is known for his ability to portray a wide range of contrasting characters - as anyone who watched The League of Gentlemen or Psychoville can attest to.

The confirmed cast list for An Adventure In Space And Time is as follows:

David Bradley as William Hartnell (The first Doctor)
Brian Cox as Sydney Newman (BBC head of drama)
Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert (Doctor Who’s first producer)
Sacha Dhawan as Waris Hussein (Doctor Who’s first director)
Lesley Manville as Heather Hartnell (William’s wife)
Reece Shearsmith as Patrick Troughton (The second Doctor)
Jeff Rawle as Mervyn Pinfield (Doctor Who’s associate producer)
Andrew Woodall as Rex Tucker (BBC producer)
Ian Hallard as Richard Martin (Doctor Who director)
Jamie Glover as William Russell (companion Ian)
Jemma Powell as Jacqueline Hill (companion Barbara)
Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford (the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan)
Sarah Winter as Delia Derbyshire (musician at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop)
William Russell (the original Ian Chesterton) as Harry
Reece Pockney as Alan

+  An Adventure In Space And Time is due to be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

+  Follow Reece Shearsmith on Twitter!

[Source: Radio Times]

Attention Collectors! The Unique Auctions Fine Antiques & Collectors Sale in Lincoln on Sunday 24th February, features a full size Red Edwin Hall Dalek.

The Edwin Hall Daleks were made in the mid 1960s and this ride (pictured-right) originally cost 20p and has room for a child to sit inside.

DWO spoke to the Auctioneer, Darryl Kirk, who had the following to say regarding the auction:

"We receive many interesting items every month ranging from collectables to Fine Antiques. The arrival of the Dalek stopped the general auction work, everyone came out to see it being lifted in. A full size Dalek cannot fail to impress, and we are looking forward to seeing it working. We have an electrician currently looking at the Dalek.

I remember playing on one these in the 1970s, and I am sure it will bring back memories for many others."

In May of 2006 a non-working Edwin Hall Dalek was sold at auction at Bonhams for £1560 inc. premium.

+  For further information call UK +44 (0) 1522 690444 or visit http://www.unique-auctions.com.

[Sources: Unique Auctions; Darryl Kirk; Terry Woodcock]

Jemma Powell has been confirmed as playing Jacqueline Hill in Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who biodrama 'An Adventure In Space And Time'.

The confirmation, which comes from Powell's PR agency website, now completes the principal cast which comprises the original TARDIS team.

Powell has a list of credits including; Foyle's War, Hex and Alice In Wonderland.

[Sources: Flash Forward Publicity]

Jamie Glover has been confirmed as playing William Russell in Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who biodrama 'An Adventure In Space And Time'.

The confirmation, which DWO hinted at in our news report from 30th January, comes from Glover's agency website, leaving the casting of Jacqueline Hill as the only remaining name from the original TARDIS team yet to be cast.

Jamie Glover, son of Julian Glover (The Crusade, City Of Death), has a list of credits including; Casualty, New Tricks, Holby City and Waterloo Road.

[Sources: Curtis Brown]

Dr Who and the Daleks and Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD, originally released in 1965 and 1966 have been completely restored by the current owner, Studio Canal, to create new High Definition versions.

As well as being scheduled for release on Blu-ray, cinematic versions have also been made, and Riverside Studios in association with the Doctor Who Appreciation Society will be amongst the very first to premiere the new versions.

On Sunday 26th May 2013 both films will be shown in HD on the big screen at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The afternoon, co-organised by DWAS will be a fun packed afternoon Dalek-themed fun.

Tickets are just £10-50 for the double bill with discounts for children and other concessions.

Full details can be found at the DWAS website by visiting www.dwasonline.co.uk and clicking the ‘Dr Who at the Movies’ link.

[Source: DWAS]

Doctor Who star Matt Smith will be taking the male lead Ryan Gosling's directional debut picture 'How to Catch a Monster'.

The story is set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city and centered on a single mother of two being swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town. Production is set to start this spring.

Christina Hendricks and Eva Mendes will co-star in the movie which is produced by Marc Platt (not the Doctor Who Author), Adam Siegel, Michel Litvak, David Lancaster and Ryan Gosling.

Since the news broke, fans are already wondering where this leaves Series 8 of Doctor Who, questioning his involvement and sparking regeneration rumours.

DWO would like to point out that Smith was recently quoted in an interview with The Sun newspaper as saying:

"His first episode sounds great. It hasn't been written yet but the idea is as brilliant and as mental as you'd expect from Steven. So there's a lot to look forward to.

When Steven was going to pitch the next season to me not long ago, he said, 'Are you ready to cry?".

It is likely that the filming schedule for Series 8 will be a tighter one than normal, and could very well be transmitted in the Autumn of 2014. This is yet to be confirmed by the BBC.

[Source: Variety]

Claudia Grant has been confirmed as playing Carole Ann Ford in Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who biodrama 'An Adventure In Space And Time'.

The confirmation comes on Grant's agency website, which happens to be run by Jessica Carney (William Hartnell's granddaughter):

"Congratulations to CLAUDIA GRANT (see actresses) who is shooting An Adventure in Space and Time, her first TV job since graduating in the summer.  The 90 minuter written by Mark Gatiss for the BBC tells the story of the genesis of Doctor Who. Claudia is filming the role of actress Carol Ann Ford who played the first Doctor’s granddaughter."

DWO are expecting more casting confirmations shortly, including Jamie Glover as William Russell.

[Sources: Jessica Carney Associates]

Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch are up against each other to win Best Actor in this year’s Virgin Media Awards!

At the moment Benedict Cumberbatch has edged ahead with 36% of the votes, and we're calling on all fellow Doctor Who fans to cast your vote to help Matt win!

To cast your vote, simply visit the following link: http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/awards/best-actor.php

Voting closes on Sunday the 10th February so there’s still time for fans to get their votes in and even tweet their support (to @VMDotCom)! The winners will be announced on 13th February on virginmedia.com.

[Source: GolinHarris]

Doctor Who fan and friend of DWO, Luke Spillane, recently started his very own (rather cool) YouTube web series on the history of Doctor Who, called 'The Beginner's Guide To Doctor Who'.

We caught up with Luke to chat about the series, which has already received a total of over 10,000+ views, and asked him to describe the catalyst behind the project:

"I've been a Doctor Who fan for as long as I can remember - throughout 'The Wilderness Years' when no other kid in the playground wanted to reenact Destiny of the Daleks! 

Since Doctor Who came back in 2005 there are now so many more fans my age and a lot of them want to learn about older Doctor Who, what happened, what were the Doctor's like and all the connections to the new series. The Beginner's Guide to Doctor Who is my attempt at helping document the whole show through a series of videos on each Doctor's era; what each Doctor was like, the companions that he travelled with and the adventures they had. There will also be additional episodes on the missing episodes of Doctor Who, the Extended Universe in the books, comics & audios and even my very own short film in late September. 

I wanted to do something to celebrate the 50th anniversary and what better way then to go back and revisit all of the fifty years of history through this year, and why not share that with an audience that want to learn all about it."

We will certainly be tuning in each month, and hope you do too! Check Out the first two videos in the series below:

[Source: Luke Spillane]

Filming begins today on The Escape Artist, a new 3x60-minute legal thriller for BBC One.

Created and written by David Wolstencroft (Spooks, Shooting Dogs), The Escape Artist stars David Tennant (Doctor Who, True Love), Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla, Black Mirror), Sophie Okonedo (The Slap, Criminal Justice), and Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty).

The Escape Artist is an original three-part suspense thriller set in the world of criminal law. David Tennant plays Will Burton, a talented junior barrister who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners, hence his nickname of “The Escape Artist”. Will is in high demand as he has never lost a case. But when his talents acquit the prime suspect in a horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results.

Producer, David Wolstencroft, says:

“The law often seems like an intellectual exercise, but scratch under the surface, and it’s all blood and guts. I wanted to write a thriller set in the legal world that’s as much about those primal feelings as it is about the twists and turns of the case. David Tennant is one of the most accomplished and iconic actors of his generation. I cannot wait to see him in Will's shoes."

Producer, Hilary Bevan Jones, says:

“The outstanding cast we have assembled, which is headed by David Tennant, Toby Kebbell, Sophie Okonedo and Ashley Jensen is a testament to David's breathtaking and original script. Directed by Brian Welsh and produced by Paul Frift, I believe The Escape Artist will be one of the most anticipated TV drama events of 2013.”

Executive producer for the BBC, Matthew Read, says:

“After the incredible response we got for William Boyd’s Restless, it’s fantastic to be working with Hilary Bevan Jones and Endor again on an original drama that brings together the very best of British talent.”

The Escape Artist is produced by Hilary Bevan Jones (State Of Play, Restless) and Paul Frift (The Best Possible Taste, Restless) and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror, In Our Name, and the up-coming Mayday) the executive producers are David Wolstencroft and Matthew Read for the BBC.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

Ex-Doctor Who star, Freema Agyeman has officially joined Twitter.

Freema, who won the hearts of Doctor Who fans as companion Martha Jones, to David Tennant's 10th Doctor, can be followed on the social networking site under the name @FreemaOfficial.

+ Check Out The DWO Guide to... Doctor Who On Twitter!

[Source: Twitter]

As part of the BBC’s blockbuster celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, David Bradley (Harry Potter) is set to play the first ever Doctor, the iconic William Hartnell in the BBC Two drama ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’.

‘An Adventure in Space and Time' will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who - first aired on 23 November 1963 - and the many personalities involved. The BBC’s Head of Drama Sydney Newman, credited with the creation of the show, will be portrayed by Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity) and the producer, Verity Lambert, by ‘Call the Midwife’ star Jessica Raine. The director of the first ever episode, ‘An Unearthly Child’, Waris Hussein, will be played by Sacha Dhawan (History Boys, Last Tango In Halifax).

Commenting on his upcoming role, David Bradley, said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled. I first heard about this role from Mark [Gatiss] while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre. When he asked if I would be interested, I almost bit his hand off! Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television’s history. William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan I want to make sure that I do him justice. I’m so looking forward to getting started.”    

The one-off 90-minute BBC Cymru Wales produced drama is written by Mark Gatiss who will also act as executive producer alongside Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner.

Mark Gatiss, executive producer and writer, said:

“What a cast! I'm utterly delighted that everyone's favourite Time Lord will be in such brilliant and stellar company. We have a terrific team who can't wait to tell the fascinating and surprising story of how the Doctor began his journey through Space and Time.”

Filming begins at the beginning of February at Television Centre before moving to Wimbledon Studios. It is produced by Matt Strevens (Misfits, Skins) and directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, The Street).

Cast List:

William Hartnell - David Bradley
William Russell - Jamie Glover (confirmed 8th February 2013)
Carole Ann Ford - Claudia Grant (confirmed 6th February 2013)
Jacqueline Hill - TBA
Sydney Newman - Brian Cox
Verity Lambert - Jessica Raine
Waris Hussein - Sacha Dhawan

DWO have learned from several sources that Jamie Glover (son of Julian Glover) *may* have been cast as William Russell. We will report on further casting confirmations as we get them.

[Source: BBC]

The winners of the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2013 were announced at a special event hosted by actor David Tennant in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House.

The awards are a celebration of audio drama, on air and online, and are about giving recognition to the actors, writers, producers, sound designers, and others who work in the genre.

Speaking at the awards, Tennant had the following to say:

"The quality of our radio drama is one of the things that makes me proud to be British. Acting on the radio is challenging, inspiring, delicate and always a privilege. Radio drama is often overlooked and undervalued next to its showier younger siblings on the television and in the cinema, and yet it is on the wireless that so many important and brilliant talents have been discovered and nurtured. I am delighted radio drama is being celebrated in this way."

The Doctor Who related winners of the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2013 were:

Best Supporting Actor in an Audio Drama, presented by Maxine Peake
David Troughton in Singles and Doublets

Tinniswood Radio Drama Award 2012 for Best Radio Drama Script, presented by Andrew Davies
Kafka the Musical by Murray Gold

[Source: BBC Media Centre]