Its long been believed that if you want to get the true measure of aDoctor Who starwho, deep down, their incarnation of the Time Lord really is compared to what came beforeyou find it in their first encounter with a Dalek. Whether its in the writing or performance, the Doctor is formed in their response to the most ancient and iconic of evils the show has, no matter how many stories come before or after that fabled matchup. So its kind of wild then, that Ncuti Gatwas first proverbial crack at the Kaled whip is going to be in an extremely limited engagement. This week the BBC announcedA Dalek Awakens, a new escape room experience for fans in the UK developed with Escape Hunt. Tasking players with boarding a ship occupied by a sole Dalek,A Dalek Awakens will see people solve puzzles together to escape the murderous wrath of the Doctors greatest foe without being able to rely on the Time Lords presencedirectly at least. As seen in the teaser video above, Gatwa will reprise his role as the Doctor forA Dalek Awakens, providing voice over to guide players along in their quest to escape certain doomand of course provide context for what a Dalek is really capable of. Which means that this is, in fact, the very first time anyone will actually get to hear what the 15th Doctor is like when faced with the threat of the Daleks rather than in the show itself. Its a peculiar choice, but not all that of a surprising one. Although theres been teases and hints that a new, redesigned Dalek-kind will appear in the latest iteration ofDoctor Whoat some point, returning showrunner Russell T. Davies has also just as much made clear that the latest era of the show wants to keep the Daleks at plungers length for a little while. I think theyve been done a lotpeople are expecting them every year now. So I think they need a good pause, Davies told British tabloid the Mirror ahead of last years 60th anniversary specials. Hopefully, theres some enemies that will become new classics, but its always good to move on.Of course, Davieswas also about to speed-run the 14th Doctors three-episode tenure by having David Tennants latest take on the Time Lord face off against an early Dalek prototype in a charity mini-episode, so that good pause wasnt really for all that long, but still. On the one hand, it makes sense, given that the Daleks had became a regular staple of the New Years specials during Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnalls era ofDoctor Who just beforehandmaking them an expected appearance blunts the Daleks of their special identity and relationship to the Doctor and Doctor Who at large. On the other: pretty insane that the first time some people will actually get to hear Ncuti Gatwa talk about fighting Daleks is going to be for an escape room experience!Fingers crossed it wont be all that long until we get something similar within the show itselfsomething Gatwa is just as eager to see himself. By the time that Im done with Doctor Who, I better have faced a Dalek. What on earth would be the point of me being Doctor Who without facing a Dalek, the actor asked of Entertainment Weekly in a cover story ahead of the premiere of his debut season earlier this year. Whatwould the point be, indeed. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.