It is no
secret that for more than fifty years now, the BBC television series
Doctor Who has presented audiences around the world and of all ages
with tales of the Doctor and his journeys through time and space.
With its revival in 2005 and its subsequent success, the show's
fandom has also seen something of a resurgence along with it.
Alongside long standing conventions in the United States such as
Gallifrey One and Chicago TARDIS, new conventions have begun popping
up for those unable to get to those events.
Since
2012, the city of Huntsville, Alabama has been home to an ever
growing convention dedicated to the series. Named Con Kasterborous
(after the constellation of which Gallifrey is/was a part of), the
convention began as what seemed a low key event that, without a
Doctor or companion as guests its first year, nevertheless managed to
bring in around five hundred attendees. For last year's convention,
actress Caitlin Blackwood (who played the young Amelia Pond and is
Karen Gillan's cousin in real life) was a guest and saw the
convention bring in a thousand attendees. This year's convention,
taking place June 28th
and 29th,
will see the convention growing once again
in a number of ways.
This time
though, there will be a few changes in store for attendees. The first
is a change of location which sees the convention moving a couple of
miles down the road to a larger venue at the Westin in the Bridge
Street Town Centre. But perhaps the biggest change will be in its
guests.
For the
first time, the convention will see one of the actors who has played
the Doctor in attendance in the form of Seventh Doctor Sylvester
McCoy, who has also played the role of Radagast in the recent Hobbit
films. The convention will also see McCoy era script editor Andrew
Cartmel as a guest, helping to cover the McCoy era from both in front
of and behind the camera. Returning as a guest this year will be IDW
Doctor Who comic artist Kelly Yates whose work includes their
acclaimed multi-Doctor stories The Forgotten and Prisoners Of Time.
The convention will also welcome actor Gareth David-Lloyd, who played
Ianto Jones in Torchwood, who as well as talking about that role will
be there alongside noted fan author and video editor Lady Soliloque
to promote her Enoch The Traveler series that he is involved with.
As well as
opportunities to get photographs and autographs with the guests, the
convention will see a number of other events taking place. There will
be panels covering various aspects of the series both old and new and
topics in-between such as Big Finish, and fan productions such as The
Forgotten Doctor webseries. While those interested in cosplaying might like to take part in the cosplay contest or attending one
of the panels on the topic. There will also be a dealers room where
fans can buy merchandise and a room showing episodes from across the
show's long history. So, if you're a fan of Doctor Who, there's
something for you to do.
Pre-registration
for Con Kasterborous will close on June 20th
though those wishing to come to the convention can purchase tickets
at the door as well. Tickets will be $60 for both days, $35 for
Saturday only and $30 for Sunday. For more information and a list of
events taking place at the convention, visit the convention's website
www.conkasterborous.com
