Doctor Who: Projections in Time: Vengeance On Varos Screening Report

A Doctor Who event was held at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith on the 9th February in conjunction with the DWAS (Doctor Who Appreciation Society). A screening of the 6th Doctor story Vengeance on Varos with guests to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The story was originally broadcast as two 45-minute episodes in January 1985 and gained 7.0 million and 7.2 million viewers. The DWAS have held a few of these screening events over the last couple of years at the iconic Riverside Studios where William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton episodes of Doctor Who were filmed in the 1960’s.  The events are an opportunity to watch a classic episode screening but also reunite invited cast and crew on stage for a question and answer session, and for opportunities for fans to have photographs with guests and have items autographed.

Vengeance on Varos is written by one of my favourite writers of the 1980’s Phillip Martin, an experienced screenwriter whose many television credits included  Z-Cars, Hetty Wainthorpe Investigates, Tandoori Nights, Gangsters, as well as Doctor Who. I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly at the premiere of a spin-off serial by Reeltime pictures called Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor  https://www.bigblueboxpodcast.co.uk/sil-and-the-devil-seeds-of-arodor-gala-event-2019/ a few years ago. 

The screening was in two halves as the episodes are 2 x 45-minute episodes and there were two Q&A sessions. Episode one was introduced by Tony Jordan, from the DWAS promotions team, who highlighted how the story mirrored the rise of reality television at the time and the moral panic from Mary Whitehouse. It brought in the ban on what were known as “video nasties”, namely explicit horror films and the introduction of the age rating.

On Varos The Doctor learns that video games aren’t always fun: Radio Times original episode summary Episode 1

Interview with actors Stephen Yardley and Forbes Collins and production assistant floor manager Sophie Neville

Sophie Neville has had a varied career within production, including as a director, but as a child was in front of the camera when she was invited to star in a feature film called Swallows and Amazons based on the children’s book by Arthur Ransome. She is an accomplished writer these days, but Sophie started the interview by expanding on her early career having joined the BBC as a graduate production trainee. She worked on the BBC chat show Russell Harty and also was responsible for sourcing child actors for the 1984 television series Swallows and Amazons Forever which also starred Colin Baker as Dr Dudgeon.

She cast Henry Dimbleby, the son of the broadcaster David Dimbleby, as Colin’s son in the serial. It was whilst on location in Norfolk filming the series, Sophie revealed, that the director Andrew Morgan, was also tasked with telling Colin Baker that he had got the part of Doctor Who. The production also included Patrick Troughton in a part as Harry Bangate, the Eel Man, but despite her best efforts, Patrick would not discuss his time on Doctor Who.

Sophie worked as the assistant floor manager on Vengeance on Varos and remembered how worried she was about Nabil Shaban (who played Sil) getting overheated in his costume. She described him as a special type of actor and due to the director’s wish to create a two-shot including Nabil she asked for a square podium to be made to raise Nabil so his performance and full costume could be seen. Sophie was very familiar with the BBC rehearsal rooms in North Acton and was responsible for scheduling and making sure the actors came in on time. She remembered marking the rehearsals room floor with chalk to assist the actors. One of the highlights she recalled was going up to the top floor at lunchtimes and seeing all the stars of the day such as Joan Collins (The Good Die Young 1954, Tales from the Crypt 1972 TV: Dynasty) and Omar Sharif ( Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

Sophie recalled Forbes Collins who played the Chief Officer in Vengeance on Varos had been cast because he had been in a production called By the Sword Divided. Sophie delighted in divulging some production secrets to the audience. The corridors of Varos were meant to be originally rock, but, being the story was all studio based, it was thought rock would look unrealistic, so it was changed to metal, which was made to look rusty. She enjoyed her role as an AFM as she was responsible for props including replica weapons. It was a huge responsibility if props did go missing, which happened on one of her commissions, and she was severely told off.

Stephen Yardley played Arak in Vengeance on Varos but was at that time probably more well known for his part of the smooth-talking Ken Masters in the sailing drama Howards Way which he played for six years. Stephen recalled his first foray into Doctor Who in Genesis of the Daleks and recalled Tom Baker was a burst of energy. It is probably little known that as a child Stephen had a stutter. Due to being bombed as a child in the Blitz of the 2nd World War, Steven didn’t speak for a few years and then developed the stutter at school. This was partly due to being bullied for not talking. Leaving school early, he joined a building site as a hod carrier.

He described the people as the kindest people he ever met, who were encouraging and patient with him. Steven enjoyed going to the library and saw a copy of The Stage publication with an advert for an assistant stage manager which he successfully applied for. After a few ASM roles in different theatres, an actress he knew encouraged Steven to go for an acting audition at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) where he gained a scholarship.

Forbes Collins, who played the Chief Officer, loved films as a child but started as a ladies’ hairdresser before deciding to be an actor. Whilst in Rome, Forbes met the British lightweight champion boxer Dave Crawley who had a bar which was popular with film actors and American ex pats and it was there, he decided to be an actor impressed by the money film stars made. A year later he joined a theatre company earning seven pounds a week. A repertory company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation.

At this point, Stephen Yardley pointed out that when he left RADA there were 42 theatre repertory companies whereas now there are probably only four. Stephen noted how with the closure of the repertory companies, it makes it very difficult for actors today to gain much needed work experience. Sophie highlighted her breadth of acting experience gained in television in the 1970s due to getting an equity card as a young person. She was a television extra in many different productions including the drama series Tenko, but decided she was more interested in moving behind the camera, starting as a runner and then deciding to pursue becoming a director.

Interview with actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Geraldine Alexander

The second question and answer session featured the two Tardis regulars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, and Geraldine Alexander who played Areta, the wife of Arak played by Stephen Yardley. Nicola Bryant was asked about her bird transformation and revealed she was allergic to feathers. Whilst the application process for the feathers and makeup was straightforward and handled by a senior makeup person, it did use a glue which the removal of Nicola described as agony. There were three stages to the transformation of Peri, which were applied in steps, and then filmed backwards to create the desired transformation effect.

Nicola’s red underwear and red shoes went missing during the production. The items were locked away, so discussion circulated that it was someone in the production. Nicola’s replacement shoes were dyed red and she described how the dye then came off on her feet. A discussion then ensued about how zealous fans or the press could be to gain spoilers about the show. Actors had to be discreet at the time to keep any surprises secret for the show. Colin described how there were stories at the time of people gaining cleaning jobs inside the BBC for this purpose.

John Nathan Turner tested this by putting a false story about the Doctor’s wife coming into the show. It then appeared in the newspapers a couple of days later, so they knew there was a leak within the department.

Colin highlighted how the North Acton rehearsals studios benefitted actors by preparing them for the pressure of the studio recording but also how it created a cohesiveness amongst the actors working together. Despite the time restrictions in terms of the studios finishing at 10pm Nicola said the actors were prepared and were able to use their actors’ skills to cope with any setbacks. Colin acknowledged how time and money were also saved with the tower block as props were there and fittings could be done on site. Whilst there are many benefits now in terms of how CGI and makeup have evolved in programmes, the experience is very different for actors as they don’t have that rehearsal time. They have to learn their lines and then shoot for the production.

Geraldine Alexander who played Areta felt extremely lucky to be in Doctor Who and remembered feeling very giggly during rehearsals. She found the whole experience as fun. Colin said he had decided as the lead for the show to create a welcoming environment for all the actors, so rehearsals were always relaxed but it was serious when in the studio.

Colin was very praiseworthy about his involvement in Big Finish and doing the audios in general and said it has been one of his most enjoyable experiences. Nicola then recounted her worst experience in 2023 where she was violently ill and vomiting whilst driving to the Big Finish studios during the recording of the Doctor Who: The Sixth Doctor Adventures The Quin Dilemma.

After the question-and-answer sessions were finished, there were opportunities for autographs. Photographs were also available at the event, and despite any queues it’s a great opportunity to chat to the guests and make your memories, which is such a lovely thing. Another great event from the DWAS!

The next event by the DWAS is Capitol Cutaway at Hammersmith in London on Sunday 6th April. This is a one-day event and tickets are still available at CAPITOL CUTAWAY 2025. The Big Blue Box Podcast team will be there to enjoy all the fun of the day too so if you come along please say hello!