Just a sampling of the cosplay on hand at Gallifrey One 2017: Weeping Angels, Gel Guards, Voc Robots, Davros, Captain “Jack”, a Pond Paradox and even a pair of Bills!
Any Gallifrey One attendee can tell you that one of the coolest reasons to attend is to check out or participate in the growing cosplay scene. Whether you’re 9 years old or 900 years old (we’ve known a certain Time Lord who may even be older than that!), a long term fan or someone who just discovered the Doctor, everyone is welcome. Cosplay has been a staple of Gallifrey One since it began, but over the last decade the hobby has been steadily expanding from a handful of cosplayers wandering the halls to over a hundred cosplayers at a time! Seeing a Dalek or Cyberman stalking the hallways, or various pairings of Doctors and companions running down corridors is a common sight.
If you’re looking to be part of the fun or take photos of some of the awesome characters in costume, then the best place to find them is our Cosplay Meet-Ups. Scheduled convention meet-up events take place in the Meet-Up Lounge, while independent groups hold impromptu meetings at various places during the convention (like the Pond Paradox, our annual collection of Amy Pond cosplayers). A list of all the various meetings and social events can be found in your convention program.
We also host a Costuming Panel track throughout the convention covering beginners basics, intermediate tips, all eras of Doctor & Companion wardrobe, prop making and monster/robot creation for the more ambitious folks. These are informal, but informative and fun panels where any and all questions are welcome for your costuming projects! As an added bonus, whenever Gallifrey One welcomes guests from the Doctor Who Costume or Make-Up Department, we often host a smaller one-on-one Q&A with them so you can get advice from the experts.
The centerpiece of the cosplay scene at Gallifrey One is the Saturday Night Masquerade of Mandragora where anywhere from 30-50 entrants show off some very impressive costumes and compete for prizes. Awards are given to various categories including beginners, advanced, presentation, workmanship, and youngsters.
And if you’re so inclined, you can visit the Cosplay Repair Shop at the back of our central exhibitor table hallway… this area can help you with your cosplay, including making on-the-fly repairs, as well as binding your badge ribbons together.
It doesn’t matter if you are a newbie, or an advanced costume designer, it’s all about sharing the love of this hobby, representing your favorite Doctor Who universe characters and getting creative. Most of all it’s just plain fun. Most cosplayers will tell you that it’s a great way to experience the convention and become a more active participant. We hope to see you in your scarves, pinstripe suits and bow ties in the future!