PETER DAVISON (IN PERSON)

PETER DAVISON is known for playing the Fifth Doctor during what has now been labelled the Classic era, although he has also popped up in the newer Doctor Who in the “Time Crash” special and “The Power of the Doctor”, as well as writing and directing “The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot” in 2013.  He also continues with Big Finish audios whenever Janet fielding insists on it.

Prior to being the Doctor, he appeared in the BBC series of All Creatures Great and Small, Love for Lydia, as well as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. He later played the leads in Campion, A Very Peculiar Practice, The Last Detective; Fear, Stress and Anger; and At Home with the Braithwaite’s.  More recently he has been seen in Gentleman Jack, Life, ITV’s The Larkins, and two series of The Gold. He is mindful that few, if any of these shows will have reached Minnesota, but thinks you are the kind people who love a challenge. He also thinks he appeared in Good Omens 2, although he sadly didn’t recognize himself.

NICOLA BRYANT (IN PERSON)

NICOLA BRYANT landed the part of the American companion Peri immediately after she finished attending The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, in 1983, for which she secured a scholarship. Cast by John Nathan-Turner she first appeared alongside Peter Davison's fifth Doctor in the 1984 story Planet of Fire coming face to face with The Master. This was immediately followed by Davison’s final story the The Caves of Androzani, which is always high on the Doctor Who Magazine list of their all time favourite stories. As the then sole companion, Nicola enjoyed playing Peri opposite Colin Baker's sixth Doctor with whom she battled against Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, The Rani and Sil.

Since leaving Doctor Who, Nicola has worked extensively in theatre up and down the country. In London her work ranges from leading roles in the West End in Killing Jessica at Savoy Theatre, in the award winning Strive at The Duke of York’s, and in Tom Stoppard’s multi award winning Rock ‘n’ Roll. She has also made guest appearances in numerous television shows, most notably as Rowan Atkinson’s niece (Millicent) in Black Adder’s a Christmas Carol and the award winning comedies 10% ers and My Family (twice); as well as spending 3 years playing Martine in the BBC series The Biz. Nicola has guest starred in numerous other tv shows as well as the American thriller Headhunter, playing a real the American psychiatrist, who released Ted Bundy back into society. At the end of 2017 Nicola was seen in the two final episodes of Star Trek Continues playing the guest lead Lana and last year she appeared in the horror movie The Wilds, for which she won a best supporting actress at the British Horror Film Festival. In the summer of 2025 Nicola is excited to announce she will be filming a new horror called Elvis vs Zombies.

Nicola has recorded numerous audio books and appeared in many audio dramas. She is still keeping Peri alive in the wonderful Big Finish range and has featured in the two Blu-Ray releases of seasons 22 and 23.

It was an honour for Nicola to be involved in the fabulous Tale Of The Tardis with Colin Baker and she has been enjoying all of the 60 years of Doctor Who celebrations that have taken place in 2023.

Nicola is very excited to be coming CONsole Room and looks forward to meeting everyone there.

GAELYNN LEA (IN PERSON)

Violinist, composer, and disability rights activist Gaelynn Lea has captivated audiences since winning NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert in 2016. In 2022, Gaelynn Lea composed the original score for Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. She is a sought-after public speaker about accessibility in the arts and was awarded the Disability Futures Fellowship in 2024. Most recently, she co-wrote and performed in a new musical fable for the stage, Invisible Fences, with disabled storyteller Kevin Kling. She now co-directs the Music Inclusion Ensemble with fellow disabled musicians Adrian Anantawan and Molly Joyce. Her new book about touring adventures and disability advocacy will be published in late 2025.  (Read her full Bio here.)

JEFF THOLE (IN PERSON)

Jeff Thole is the Geology Laboratory Supervisor at Macalester College. He arrived at Macalester in 1996 after spending 5 years as an environmental consultant. Jeff was also a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia, prior to graduate school. Currently, his primary duties include teaching introductory geology labs and maintaining, running, and user instruction for the instrumentation housed in the Macalester Science Division’s Keck Laboratory. Jeff received Master of Science in Geology (Volcanology) from Washington State University in 1991 and Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1987.