Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

The O2, London to September 3, 2017

Classic props and models rub shoulders with digital interactive media in the latest touring Star Wars exhibition, which takes up a 10-month residency at London’s The O2. Your greatest thrill might come from seeing an original Imperial Mouse Droid or sharing the image of your Star Wars ‘identity’ on social media, such is the range of content and opportunity.

Gone are the days when an exhibition could just trot out awkwardly-posed mannequins and battered accessories – visitors now expect a certain level of engagement, as well as a reason to come back and look at content they might have previously encountered over the preceding 40 years. Recognising that Star Wars is old enough to be multigenerational, the curators of this new installation offer content to engage everyone from first-generation children of the ’70s to the youngest of Jedi Younglings.

What’s different this time is the identity aspect, with visitors invited to discover how 10 components shape the identities both of themselves and favourite Star Wars characters. A team of experts in the fields of genetics, neuropsychology and psychology have apparently developed this ‘shape your own identity’ aspect and quite how you feel about it will depend on how you approach those endless ‘Which character are you?’ quizzes on Facebook, or your age.

For the record, I came out as a Mandalorian bounty hunter, though I did skew my answers towards that outcome. I admit to being disappointed that they haven’t yet found a way to accurately measure my midichlorian count and frankly hokey quizzes and ancient weapons are no match for a blaster, but the kids (that’s anyone under 30 in my eyes) couldn’t wait to get their profiles up onto social media. A rubber band handed out at the start is used to log your preferences as you go round and an earpiece feeds you movie dialogue and commentary as you approach triggers in front of the exhibits.

So what’s on offer for a first-generation Star Wars fan who prefers a more tangible old school experience? Inevitably, most of the precious exhibits are in sealed glass units, thus preserving them, but also distancing you. The Doctor Who Experience lets you get up close and personal in this regard, but perhaps the risk of someone running off with one of Threepio’s legs or other Lucasfilm’s Crown Jewels is a risk too far. These are are all original screen-used props, costumes and models.

If you want to cuddle a Wookiee or sit next to Yoda on his swamp log then Madame Tussaud’s might be a better option as you can fully interact with the waxwork replicas there. These artefacts are just too valuable to be fiddled with. Marvel at the original Ralph McQuarrie production paintings that you pored over in The Art of Star Wars book or check out the detail on the smaller-scale Millennium Falcon from The Empire Strikes Back. Chuckle at the mangy mask of Ponda Baba (or Walrus Man as I knew him) and then walk straight past the Jar Jar Binks display to embrace the good stuff.

There’s an original Boba Fett costume complete with Wookiee scalps, different generations of stormtroopers, a gleaming Threepio, a pristine Artoo… you get the picture. That slave girl bikini top clasps the chest of a disinterested Leia model in the shadow of Han Solo encased in Carbonite and Jabba’s eyes peer disturbingly from a display, being what little is left of that once majestic slug puppet.

Arguably the highlight of the exhibit is the room that contains what can only be called BEST. CABINET. EVER. A giant Star Destroyer is flanked by Shuttle Tydirium and TIE Fighters. And on the Rebel side there’s an X-Wing, Snowspeeder and even a Mon Calamari cruiser. These are the ships from my childhood and hold up remarkably well to close inspection. Lovingly assembled from construction kits and painstakingly weathered to simulate battle action, even the miniature pilots in the cockpits impress.

If you can drag yourself away from that chamber of delights you can look at (among others) an Episode III Chewie, Anakin and his speeder bike, a cluster of Jedi masters and Darth Vader, holding court at the end of the displays.

The inevitable gift shop will part you from a few credits, most items featuring the beautiful profile montages of the main characters. Oh, and you might want to check the online FAQs before you go. Yes, you can wear your Stormtrooper costume, but nothing that covers your face. And ‘Out of consideration for other visitors…’ lightsabers are forbidden inside the exhibition. You have been warned.

While entry slots are timed, you can take as long as you want taking everything in – 75 minutes seemed adequate, though at the press preview there were fewer people crowding the displays.

Verdict: Star Wars aficionados will already have booked their tickets, those undecided need only ask themselves ‘Do I want to see an original Star Destroyer?’ And of course you do. 9/10

Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition is at the O2 from 16 November 2016 to 03 September 2017. Book tickets now at http://www.theo2.co.uk/StarWars