Shirt…

…Is Eccleston(e) Cold

To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of H.G. Wells, the Regal Fiesta Lobby was staging a rehearsed reading of 'The Time Machine'. Shirt booked his ticket before any readers were announced, and felt very smug when not only Myanna 'The Impossible Planet' Buring and Nikki 'TW: Sleeper' Amuka-Bird were announced, but also playing 'The Time Traveller' would be Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. Shirt had previously met Chris briefly, but fancied another opportunity. As the weeks went on, Myanna had to withdraw on health grounds, being replaced by Emma Hamilton from 'The Tudors'. However, Mr. Eccleston remained in place.

Having made a detour to Naughty Asteroid, Shirt arrived half-an-hour before the start. Having identified the RFL stage-door, Shirt picked up his ticket and managed to acquire two copies of the 'Programme Notes'. Eventually taking his seat, Shirt found himself sitting in the middle of the fifth row, perfectly in front of the middle of the three microphones on stage. After around 10 minutes, the lights went down and after a brief talk from a member of RFL staff, the three actors walked on stage, all wearing oversized top-hats which they almost immediately discarded. As Shirt had suspected Chris was at the middle microphone, meaning that he had a perfect view of him.

Around 90 minutes later, the reading came to an end, and Shirt quickly made a dash (which in retrospect was completely unnecessary) to the stage-door, which was underneath a flight of stairs, joining a large group of other fans, including Smithers. He and a few other fans had been present when Chris had gone in, and it seemed that there had been a scene in which Chris had begun effing-and-blinding at fans whom he suspected to be dealers and who had asked for more than one autograph. There was therefore some concern over whether Chris would refuse to sign, or even exit via another door.

The waiting therefore began, with the assembled fans exchanging stories of other stage-door experiences, whilst trying to stay warm in the October cold. Twenty minutes in, and Nikki came down the stairs having exited through another door, signing for about two fans before sweeping in through the stage-door promising to be out again soon.

Waiting continued, and the group began thinning. However, Shirt, Smithers and others all refused to go, believing that as soon as they left, Chris would come, and they would be forced to see online photos of others with Mr. Eccleston. Forty minutes in, Smithers described an argument with his fiancé over his returning home with a Drashig puppet. Shirt having purchased said item at Naughty Asteroid earlier that day (as part of the 'Enemies of the Third Doctor' action figure set), was able to demonstrate its puppet action for one of the other members of the group.

After an hour, Nikki left again, but again only signed for a few fans, leaving Shirt without her signature. Ten minutes later, and Emma also left, with Shirt managing to get her to sign his ticket. A further five minutes later, following a call from a worried fiancé, Smithers finally gave in for the night and left with a few others. A member of security staff then came to the glass door, surveyed the queue, and disappeared for a few minutes. On his return, one of the few fans remaining, went up and asked straight out if Chris was still there. It seemed that he was, and would be out to sign in five minutes. Cue frantic scrambling for items, some of which had been stowed in bags quite a while before.

Eventually Chris appeared in the reception area, then came outside. He set out the rules of combat - “One item each, no photos”. Shirt therefore joined the throng around the Ninth Doctor, finally getting his 'Season 1' DVD boxset booklet signed. Due to the poor lighting, some of Chris' signature went over John Barrowman's, but such was Shirt's delight at being able to get out of the cold that he didn't care. All items signed and Chris went back inside whilst the throng slowly made its way to Waterloo Station.

[PL]