Fancy going time travelling last night?
Just around the corner from Gatsby’s mansion in Mayfair is another immersive world to explore. This time it’s set in the world of the BBC’s Doctor Who.
Delayed by the pandemic – if only someone could’ve gone back in time and stopped that. Doctor Who Time Fracture officially opened in 2021, and it’s been a rough ride for them to get where they are. Building a HUGE immersive set can not have been easy during a pandemic and they had a flood to deal with too!
Upon entering we were met by Dr H Sullivan (Sully) who explained that a Temporal Disruptor had landed on earth in 1942, at the height of the Blitz. This caused a Time Fracture, a rift in time and space. And that we now have two hours to save the universe!
The first room we enter is shown in the photo above. A control room filled with screens, the room is incredibly detailed, and similar to the Tardis’ control room. Here scientists are trying to figure out the time period to travel back to.
We all then go through the Time Fracture, walking through this section feels like you’re transported into a fairground ‘Fun House’ with neon lights and mirrors.
Having travelled back in time, we are then met by some familiar faces. From the likes of Leonardo DiVinci to Dr Who’s Brian. However, the plot then becomes a bit confusing…
The issue here is that everyone goes off into little groups, but you’re still quite close to each other. This meant I spent most of the time wondering if what the others were doing was more interesting. You could also hear what the other groups were saying at times which causes sensory overload.
Where this show really wins is in it’s costume design and Rebecca Brower’s production design. Both are incredibly detailed and flawless. You really feel as if you’re fully immersed into the world of Doctor Who, and therefore as an immersive show it works so well. The set really took my breathe away and I cannot compliment it enough, it’s one of the best set designs I’ve ever seen!
During the interval there’s a pause for guests to enjoy a drink in a bar upon a spaceship, with an alien singing jazzed up versions of songs like Radiohead’s Creep. I felt as if I was in the movie ‘Passengers’, this whole room is stunning and even the bartenders have costumes!
The ending was quite drawn out and I was left wondering if someone could jump us forward in time a few minutes. And due to the plot being slightly chaotic in the middle, I didn’t fully understand what was happening at the end. Although I think Whovians will love this experience. I just wish it had a stronger plot and felt more organised. The cast are high energy throughout and there are appearances from Daleks and the Doctor, which fans will love!
The set and costumes are out of this world, the actors try incredibly hard to make sense of the chaos that ensues. But ultimately, Doctor Who Time Fracture needs a stronger storyline and a bit of organisation to pull everything together.
Unfortunately this show is ending its run early – so you’ve only got until the 5th of June to experience it! (Unless you have a Tardis of your own!)
2 Star Review 3 Star Review 4 Star Review 5 Star Review 2022 2023 Adaptation Cast Announcement Comedy Dance Edinburgh Fringe Edinburgh Fringe Interviews Fringe Interviews LGBTQIA+ Manchester Musical News New Wimbledon Theatre Off West End Park Theatre Play Review Revival Shakespeare Show Announcement Southwark Playhouse Touring Production VAULT Festival West End
- A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
Spine-tingling yet heart-warming, Mark Gatiss’s retelling of A Christmas Carol truly encapsulates the haunting atmosphere of a Victorian ghost story, balanced out with enough humour so as to capture the festive season. Led by Keith Allen as Scrooge, with Peter Forbes as Marley, this show is perfect for Christmas viewing. The set design by Paul Wills is instantly captivating, … More A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE - A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
The title of this winner of Theatre 503’s 2023 International Playwriting Award by Roxy Cook may seem like the set-up to a joke, but the narrative that unspools is instead an affectionate, gently barbed and at base quite sobering portrait of three ordinary souls (and one restless feline) adrift in modern Moscow. There is much … More A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503 - PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE - GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, High Tide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE - CINDERELLA – REVIEW – LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
Drum roll please…(Cue a literal drum rolling across the stage.) The Lyric pantomime is one of traditions with the return of many well-loved jokes and skits. Costumes and sets are all made at the Lyric itself by Good Teeth, with set pieces being reused year on year. This year Cinderella gets the Hammersmith makeover, with … More CINDERELLA – REVIEW – LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
2 thoughts on “REVIEW – DOCTOR WHO TIME FRACTURE – LONDON”