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| FANS of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a variety of other cult TV programmes were treated to a weekend of fun at Blackpool recently. Actors from a variety of sci-fi films and television programmes swooped on the Norbreck Castle Hotel in the seaside resort which was run by SFX Magazine. Cult TV and film fans were treated to talks from James Marsters (Spike from Buffy), Emma Caulfield (Anya from Buffy), Joe Pantoliano (Cypher from The Matrix), Victoria Pratt (Shalimar Fox from Mutant X), Shiri Appleby (Liz Parker from Roswell High), and Paul Goddard (Stark from Farscape). There were also a number of surprise guests, including the sci-fi author Robert Rankin. Visitors got to see the stars, get their autographs, have their pictures taken with them, listen to talks, buy merchandise, and generally party like it was the end of the world. Alternative activities also attracted the attention of the less star-struck attendees and items such as a 2000AD comic demonstration and Games Workshop war-games were on offer during the weekend. Examiner reader Kath Horsfall, of Birkby, who won an icHuddersfield competition for tickets to the event, was generally positive about the event. She said "We very much enjoyed the play by Alexander Siddig and Andrew Robinson of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. "More items like that would have been appreciated rather than just the question and answer sessions of the other guests. "James Marsters was very entertaining and entered into the spirit of the event. "His presence made the event for many of those attending." Another attendee, Rebekah, from Northamptonshire, had volunteered to be a steward (helping out with the event) and was very positive about her first experience as a steward. She said "It's been good. You get to meet a lot of people - especially as a steward." There will be another SFX event next year and it looks set to be as big as this year's event. SFX: The Event - 21-23 June 2002 - Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool The Guests: Alexander Siddig (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Andrew J Robinson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Emma Caulfield (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Paul Goddard (Farscape) Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, Memento) Shiri Appleby (Roswell High) Victoria Pratt (Mutant X, Cleopatra 2525) Joel Harlow and Rob Hinderson - Harlow FX (Makeup for Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Also attending as surprise guests were: Mira Furlan (Babylon 5), Tony Amendola (Stargate SG1), Robert Rankin (Sci-fi author) and I think Jan Siegel (Sci-fi author). THE EVENT Sci-Fi Conventions are great events where fans of genre TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Roswell, Farscape, and, yes, Star Trek and Star Wars, can get together to quiz their favourite stars, buy merchandise, and get photos and autographs. Quite a few people also like to dress up at the evening parties. The Blackpool event, managed by SFX, was definitely the biggest I have ever been to. The Norbreck Castle Hotel is a well-known convention venue, made all the more affordable by the fact that cheap B&Bs can be had for less than £20 per night just a few minutes walk away - hotel rooms at the Norbreck were considerably more expensive although they were convenient as rain showers affected the Blackpool area all weekend. |