As usual I got a bus to Manchester then a megabus to Birmingham, a little late because of traffic but I got the earliest bus anyways. Birmingham was even worse than google maps shown it to be and I ended up just reading a book to pass the time. The train station was not like one I'd ever seen, was hard to find the toilets or anything.
The event itself, I befriended a person and helped them get there before meeting with a friend there. It was simple enough to get there with help from google maps beforehand.
Merchandise was very pricey but it is the bbc and doctor who after all. Queueing was awful, parents with children kept trying to push in, their wasn't a clear queue, just alot mixed up and I was behind a group when a family decided to go right next to us so inbetween two queues and tried to push infront of me, even hearing at one point the mother telling the child to slide in. I pushed them out the way to be served first however, completely rude and uncalled for. I bought a Peter Capaldi attack eyebrows tour shirt for £25 and wristband for £5. Then we noticed how was another merchandise area upstairs unused, pft. So the hard part next was finding the seats, as I wasn't next to my friend, decided to risk it and see if anyone would ask to move us since last time I was in birmingham, people sat anywhere. Eventually had to move and was on a row all by myself. However after the break, friend sat with me and suddenly was a few more people around who most likely moved closer due to the height of the place and to see better. Either alot cancelled or someone didn't think to start from the low to the top for the higher cheaper seats.
Peter Davidson was hosting this event and his comic timing was amazing, especially with the conductor; Ben Foster. I have to admit when it started, it felt too fast. It got straight into it. I believe it would of made it better to play the actual doctor who theme at the start, however I think having that at the end did work also as it summed it all up, but it just felt a little odd, maybe could of been done twice? Also Murray Gold was in audience, right in the centre, conviently a spotlight showing on him when mentioned.
List of songs (some in order): A good man, Listen, Time heist, Robin Hood, Mummy on orient express. Then the companions which shown Rose, Martha, Donna and Amy. The ninth doctor theme aswell as going into showing the tenth doctor. We then had song of freedom, the daleks which included as typical in the doctor who proms the daleks taking over the arena. The pandorica suite which focuses on soundtracks in the two finales, christmas carol, this is galifrey, impossible girl, death in heaven suite (Misssyyyy!!), vale decem and the Doctor Who theme (where we got to see the conductor in the fifth doctor's coat.)
Pandorica Suite
In general most if not all of my ultimate favourites was played at this. The females vocals was just stunning and I was so glad she was there, I was hoping for this and I got everything I wanted and more. It's so hard to pick a favourite between them but I have to admit I was so happy to hear the eleventh doctor theme playing. Most my favourite soundtracks come from his era. I have to admit I had a better viewing experience after the break, I thought it started far too quickly to get into and I was already a little out of my comfort zone being on my own on the row and how Birmingham was for me so far.
I had enough time to catch the megabus after the event which for some reason a stagecoach came. I wouldn't of minded if they did the usual state what time their bus was for and maybe even which direction they was going but they did neither and they had the most horrible attitude. Very sarcastic when I asked on behalf of alot of others there, well excuse me then, maybe customer service isn't stagecoaches best point.
In the end I loved the event, I just wish they did one in Manchester so I would of enjoyed it 100%. Great viewing experience even for the cheaper seats. After all I wanted to focus more on the music anyways as a big lover of soundtracks and of course Doctor who. I took some photos but I had a camera phone (did see someone with a camera which pretty sure it said only camera phones allowed and he was with a family, not really fair. Must of snuck it in.) and videos which will be uploaded onto this when available and some will be able to be seen on facebook.
