With Nottingham only an hour up the motorway I’d somehow never managed to get to an EM-Con event, something I rectified this past weekend as I hopped into the Sportswagon and headed east to the Motorpoint Arena in the heart of Nottinghams city center. While finding a nearby parking space was challenging, the warm weather made the walk down to the show a pleasant one, and with a great selection of guests on hand for the day it looked set to be an enjoyable event.
Sadly, John Rhys Davies (Sallah from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) and Katy O’Brien (Elia Kane from The Mandalorian) had to back out of the event at the last minute, and Katy was thoughtful enough to take a moment to send this message to the EM-Con crowd.
Hey all! I hate to have to do this, but I won’t be able to make it to EmCon this weekend due to being trapped on location for a shoot. Tried to get notice out earlier, but there’s been some kind of delay so I’m posting myself. Truly sorry for the disappointment & inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/kWcnfGy3op
— Katy O’Brian (@thekatyo) June 7, 2023
Nevertheless, there were still plenty of Lucasfilm stars to aim your lasers at including Julian Glover, Guy Henry, Mike Quinn and Brian Herring, and their busy signing tables were testament to their popularity as they signed away and chatted with the attendees while the Saturday afternoon sun roasted everyone outside.
It’s a unique setting. The last time I was at the Motorpoint Arena was in 2008 to see Metallica, so to see it laid out in ‘con mode’ was quite the difference, but it worked. The lower seating levels were perfect for folks to take 5 and have a rest while still being able to watch the event happen, and the wide area on the floor was broad enough for tables around the edge and two aisles down the center, with plenty of items for fans of the GFFA, Indiana Jones and much, much more.
With a smattering of vintage, some 90’s classics (some lovely Micro Machines were available) and plenty of figures from The Phantom Menace right up to the latest releases there was plenty for fans of all stripes. Included in the collectible treats was a very early sighting of the second wave of Indiana Jones Retro figures from Hasbro, with Henry Jones and Indiana in their Last Crusade outfits. Ironically, given the absense of John Rhys Davies, the third figure in that second wave is Sallah.
For fans of varying genres there was the Bunk Room from Red Dwarf (Danny John Jules, Chloe Annett, Hattie Hayridge and Chris Barrie were there representing the boys from the Dwarf), the DeLorean from Back to the Future, Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, Daleks, Predators, the East Midlands Ghostbusters, zombies and of course plenty of Star Wars characters with an impressive Death Star wall, Han Solo in carbonite and the massed ranks of the very friendly East Midlands Garrison.
All in all a friendly and busy afternoon in a great venue with some top-tier guests. EM-Con 2023 won’t be my last visit to the event, so stay tuned for news on who’s heading to the East Midlands for the next running of this great local convention.
- Hardcover Book
- Blake, Olivie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 592 Pages - 08/29/2023 (Publication Date) - Random House Worlds (Publisher)
