Castrovalva

] [cite web
url= http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/5z.html
title= Castrovalva
publisher = A Brief History of Time Travel
last = Sullivan
first = Shannon
date = 2007-08-07
accessdate = 2008-08-30]
*The working title for this story was "The Visitor".

*This story was the first story aired which featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor. However, it was the fourth story to be recorded as the original planned debut story, "Project Zeta Sigma" by John Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch, proved unworkable and a replacement had to be commissioned. John Nathan-Turner took advantage of this to give Davison the chance to have a firm idea of how he wanted to play the role before recording the regeneration story.

*For this story, the series was shifted from its traditional Saturday early evening transmission to a twice-weekly (Monday and Tuesday) slot. However, the format change was not well promoted, with the result that many regular viewers missed the second episode.

*Episode 1 of this story is notable for being the first episode in "Doctor Who" history to credit the title character as "The Doctor", rather than "Doctor Who". The credit would remain as "The Doctor" until the series' cancellation in 1989, at the end of Series 26. In the 1996 TV film, no credit was actually given for the Eighth Doctor (although the Seventh Doctor was called the "Old Doctor", albeit not in the onscreen credits). However, for the first season of the 2005 revival, the credit reverted back to "Doctor Who". The title became "The Doctor" again in "The Christmas Invasion" at the request of new star David Tennant.

* For the final scene, the script called for Adric to look "pallid" as he was still recovering from the effects of imprisonment by The Master. According to the commentary on the DVD, this was accidentally achieved by Matthew Waterhouse, who had a hangover from the night before from drinking too much Campari. Whilst the cameras were filming The Doctor and Tegan in conversation about who landed the TARDIS, Matthew was vomiting behind a tree. The other actors, to their credit, continued acting despite it so the take could be used.

Outside references

*"Castrovalva" is the name of an early lithograph by the Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher, and the design of the city in this serial reflects the impossible nature of many of Escher's later works. The story centres on the mathematical principle of recursion, a concept portrayed in much of Escher's artwork. Escher's lithograph depicts a town in Italy atop a steep slope, a setting similar to that of "The Curse of Peladon", but there is nothing in the print itself to suggest the paradoxes of this story.

*"Event One" appears to be a reference to the Big Bang – the creation of the universe. However, it is repeatedly described in this story as "the creation of the galaxy", which is believed to be a quiet, tranquil coalescing of hydrogen predating the first stars rather than a dramatic cosmic event.

In print

Doctorwhobook
title=Castrovalva
series=Target novelisations
number=76
featuring=


writer=Christopher H. Bidmead
publisher=Target Books
coverartist=
isbn=0 426 20136 1
set_between=
pages=
date=16 June 1983
preceding=Meglos
following=Four to Doomsday|A novelisation of this serial, written by Christopher H. Bidmead, was published by Target Books in March 1983. Despite being the first story of the Fifth Doctor era, it was not the first novelisation of the era to be published.

Broadcast, VHS and DVD releases

*This story was released on VHS in March 1992. The cover, by Andrew Skilleter, in part drew upon the Escher print "Relativity".
*The serial was released on DVD in the New Beginnings boxset on January 29th 2007 as part of a "Return of the Master" trilogy alongside "The Keeper of Traken" and "Logopolis".
*The DVD contains a commentary provided by actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding with writer Christopher H. Bidmead and director Fiona Cumming. Other extras included "Being Doctor Who" : Peter Davison discusses how he approached playing the Doctor. "Directing Castrovalva" : Fiona Cumming talks about directing this story. "The Crowded TARDIS" : A look at the increase in the TARDIS crew. "Swap Shop & Blue Peter" : Peter Davison interviewed on these two programmes. Deleted Scenes. Theme Music Video. Music Only Option. Radio Times Billings. The Doctor Who Annual 1982. BBC Enterprises Literature & a Photo Gallery.

References

External links

*BBCCDW|id=castrovalva|title=Castrovalva
*Brief | id=5z | title=Castrovalva
*Doctor Who RG | id=who_5z | title=Castrovalva

Reviews

*OG review | id=5z | title=Castrovalva
*DWRG | id=cast | title=Castrovalva

Target novelisation

* [http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecl6nb/OnTarget/1983/castrova/83castro.htm On Target – "Castrovalva"]