Doctor Who 50th Anniversary event in Sydney

BBC Worldwide Australia and Destination NSW have partnered with Vivid Sydney to stage a one night only “Doctor Who projections” at Circular Quay.

To take place on Saturday June 1st, the event will see the façade of Customs House light up with 3D-mapped projections of Doctor Who.

Dendy Opera Quays will also screen two episodes from Series Seven Part 1: Asylum of the Daleks and The Angels Take Manhattan.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, said, “This is a one-night only celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, and sees Australian creative innovators, The Spinifex Group, working with the Doctor Who team to create projections that will deliver a show-stopping, unique anniversary celebration for Doctor Who’s legion of fans.”

Destination NSW has collaborated with BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand to create the evening of entertainment which also includes a special cinema screening of two episodes from the series.

Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, said: “Our goal is to ensure Vivid Sydney surprises every year, and the 2013 program will certainly delight festivalgoers of all ages. The Doctor Who projections will entertain audiences ranging from dedicated science-fiction fans through to every family who has ever enjoyed an episode together.”

The Doctor Who projections will be displayed at six intervals throughout the evening of Saturday June 1, featuring music from the TV show including I am the Doctor. The first Doctor Who projection will be shown at 6.50pm, then 10 minutes to every hour until midnight.

The projections will be interspersed with Move Your Building, an interactive projection produced by French design company Danny Rose, which will be beamed upon Customs House over the 18 nights of Vivid Sydney.

In addition to the special projection on Customs House, Doctor Who fans will also be able to take in special cinema screenings at nearby Dendy Opera Quays, featuring two thrilling episodes from Series Seven Part 1: Asylum of the Daleks and The Angels Take Manhattan, which see the Doctor confront two of his most terrifying foes – the Daleks and the Weeping Angels – and say a heart-breaking farewell to his companions Amy and Rory Pond.

There will also be a competition encouraging fans to submit a picture of themselves dressed as their favourite Doctor Who character to win a fantastic prize pack of Doctor Who themed merchandise.

Sharon Wilson, Head of Marketing, Global Brands, BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are delighted to partner with Destination NSW and Vivid Sydney to bring this unique night of Doctor Who entertainment to life in Sydney.

“Vivid Sydney is the perfect platform for this Anniversary celebration, which will see the Doctor projected 7m high onto one of the city’s most historic buildings. The Spinifex Group has done a tremendous job of creating a display which makes the most of Customs House’s amazing façade.”

Fans unable to travel to Sydney for the 50th Anniversary celebrations will still be able to join in the festivities at simultaneous screenings at 48 Dendy, Event and Village cinemas around Australia and New Zealand.

Vivid Sydney – developed, owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW – is an 18-day celebration of light, music and ideas. It is the biggest festival of its kind in the southern hemisphere and will take place in Sydney from 24 May to 10 June.

Vivid Sydney is one of the signature events in the NSW Events Calendar developed by Destination NSW with the NSW Government as the major investor. The full program for Vivid Sydney 2013 including light, music and ideas can be found at www.vividsydney.com.

www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/article/doctor-who-set-to-illuminate-vivid-sydney