Twins’ flights of fancy thrill thousands

The die was cast the moment they found themselves playing with Daleks and jumping into the Tardis on the set of Dr Who story Destiny of the Daleks being filmed at the old ARC sandpit on Binnegar Heath where their dad worked in maintenance.

Identical twins Gary and Paul Hardy-Brown were only seven years old in 1978, but from then on they have been obsessed with special effects, tricks of the eye, sleight of hand and making the incredible credible.

Now into their fifties they’re as keen as ever and preside over The Twins FX, a multi-million pound business creating bespoke theatrical visual special effects, illusions and animatronics. Their work has graced countless stages, from Olivier Award-winning pantomimes at the London Palladium and around the country in touring productions such as Barnum, to the stadium tour of Dr Who Live and now Back to the Future: The Musical, currently in the West End but destined next year for New York and beyond.

Chris Chibnall 2015

Chris Chibnall has done as much to raise the profile of Dorset in the nation’s eye as anyone in recent years. The creator of Broadchurch, which was shot on location largely in and around West Bay and is now back with an eagerly anticipated second series, moved here some 12 years ago to settle in Bridport. Read More…