Series 1 (BFTW): Difference between revisions

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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
<!--With all six regular stories being adaptations, their original authors were credited alongside [[Jacqueline Rayner]], who "dramatised" all stories except for ''[[Beyond the Sun (audio story)|Beyond the Sun]]'', which was adapted by its author [[Matt Fitton]]. The bonus ''[[Buried Treasures (audio anthology)|Buried Treasures]]'' release featured two original short stories by Rayner and [[Paul Cornell]]. These two stories held the distinction of being the first original stories recorded by [[Big Finish Productions]], but were overtaken on the release stage by ''[[The Sirens of Time (audio story)|The Sirens of Time]]''.
The idea to continue ''Torchwood'' stories on audio with [[Big Finish]] has been around at least since 2013, when, having been given a green light by [[BBC Worldwide]], the [[Torchwood (TV series)|television series]]' executive producers [[Russell T Davies]] and [[Julie Gardner]] began thinking with Big Finish's [[Gary Russell]] about the future of [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] in [[Cardiff]] after ''[[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Miracle Day]]''. The development of this audio [[Aliens Among Us (audio series)|Series 5]], however, had to be postponed till [[2017 (production)|2017]], partly due to Gary Russell moving to Australia.  


The first five regular releases were produced in two variants: on two cassettes or two CDs. Only ''[[Dragons' Wrath (audio story)|Dragons' Wrath]]'' was squeezed into one CD, whereas the cassette format has been abandoned altogether. The bonus release was also distributed on a cassette or CD, but, being limited edition, has long been out of print and became a rarity. The cassette releases have been discontinued. {{As of|2017|12}}, no stories from the season were available as downloads, making CD the only available format.  
In the meantime, he and [[Scott Handcock]] decided to settle on a less ambitious project of telling stories set within the four seasons of the television series. The format would have to be somewhere in between full-cast audios and [[The Companion Chronicles|companion-crhonicles]]-style heavily narrated two-handers. The role of the producer fell on [[James Goss]].


Apart from actors already known to ''Doctor Who'' fans, the series witnessed debuts of many actors who would later have an extensive career in Big Finish dramas and sometimes beyond. [[Mark Gatiss]], [[Barnaby Edwards (actor)|Barnaby Edwards]] and [[Maggie Stables]] are all graduates of this season, to name just a few.
It was further decided that each episode would focus on one Torchwood operative.<ref name="VOR79">[[VOR 79]], ''Relighting Torchwood'', pp. 18–20</ref> The six episodes of the first series thus revolve around [[Jack Harkness]], [[Ianto Jones]], the duo of [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Rhys Williams]], [[Yvonne Hartman]], again Jack and again Gwen respectively. The series also featured an on-going arc of Torchwood fighting against [[the Committee]], the organisation introduced in the first story ''[[The Conspiracy (audio story)|The Conspiracy]]''.  


The production process was not yet completely stabilised sometimes causing significant delays. For instance, the problems with the recording studio and post-production for the sixth story ''Dragons' Wrath'', adapted with all the others, resulted in a 12-month gap between the recording and the final release. But by the end of the season many recognisable fixtures of the series were already in place, including the "Professor Bernice Summerfield" logo by [[Paul Vyse]] and the music theme.-->
Notably, the stories did not form a chronological progression. ''The Conspiracy'', ''[[Fall to Earth (audio story)|Fall to Earth]]'' and ''[[Uncanny Valley (audio story)|Uncanny Valley]]'' (stories 1, 2 and 5) were indeed set within the television series. ''[[Forgotten Lives (audio story)|Forgotten Lives]]'' and ''[[More Than This (audio story)|More Than This]]'' (stories 3 and 6) explored Gwen's life after the [[Miracle Day]], respectively post-Torchwood and then trying to put Torchwood together again. Finally, ''[[One Rule (audio story)|One Rule]]'' (story 4) was a bit of an outlier, having the head of [[Torchwood One]] front and centre, albeit quite out of her element in the middle of Cardiff. To fulfil the promise of a chamber cast, various plot devices have been used. For instance, despite Yvonne visiting Cardiff at the height of Torchwood Three, [[Tracy Ann Oberman]] did not interact with any Torchwood Three actors because Yvonne temporarily froze them in [[the Hub]], purportedly to keep them from interfering in her business.


== Stories ==
== Stories ==

Revision as of 00:35, 6 January 2018

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The first series in the Torchwood range of audios was released by Big Finish Productions in 20152016 and marked the first audios produced by Big Finish under the extended license including the BBC Wales-produced television series. The audio series served as a continuation and extension of the Torchwood television series and saw several actors from it reprise their roles as members of Torchwood Three, with one story concentrating instead on the head of Torchwood One from the two-part season finale of the second series of Doctor Who. Both television series were under the creative lead of Russell T Davies, who was consulted on the audios. The season included six releases, each focusing on one member of Torchwood.

Overview

The idea to continue Torchwood stories on audio with Big Finish has been around at least since 2013, when, having been given a green light by BBC Worldwide, the television series' executive producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner began thinking with Big Finish's Gary Russell about the future of Torchwood in Cardiff after Miracle Day. The development of this audio Series 5, however, had to be postponed till 2017, partly due to Gary Russell moving to Australia.

In the meantime, he and Scott Handcock decided to settle on a less ambitious project of telling stories set within the four seasons of the television series. The format would have to be somewhere in between full-cast audios and companion-crhonicles-style heavily narrated two-handers. The role of the producer fell on James Goss.

It was further decided that each episode would focus on one Torchwood operative.[1] The six episodes of the first series thus revolve around Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, the duo of Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams, Yvonne Hartman, again Jack and again Gwen respectively. The series also featured an on-going arc of Torchwood fighting against the Committee, the organisation introduced in the first story The Conspiracy.

Notably, the stories did not form a chronological progression. The Conspiracy, Fall to Earth and Uncanny Valley (stories 1, 2 and 5) were indeed set within the television series. Forgotten Lives and More Than This (stories 3 and 6) explored Gwen's life after the Miracle Day, respectively post-Torchwood and then trying to put Torchwood together again. Finally, One Rule (story 4) was a bit of an outlier, having the head of Torchwood One front and centre, albeit quite out of her element in the middle of Cardiff. To fulfil the promise of a chamber cast, various plot devices have been used. For instance, despite Yvonne visiting Cardiff at the height of Torchwood Three, Tracy Ann Oberman did not interact with any Torchwood Three actors because Yvonne temporarily froze them in the Hub, purportedly to keep them from interfering in her business.

Stories

# Title Author Director Featuring Released Pr. code
1 The Conspiracy David Llewellyn Scott Handcock Jack Harkness September 2015 BFPTWCD01
2 Fall to Earth James Goss Ianto Jones October 2015 BFPTWCD02
3 Forgotten Lives Emma Reeves November 2015 BFPTWCD03
4 One Rule Joseph Lidster Barnaby Edwards Yvonne Hartman December 2015 BFPTWCD04
5 Uncanny Valley David Llewellyn Neil Gardner Jack Harkness January 2016 BFPTWCD05
6 More Than This Guy Adams Scott Handcock
Gwen Cooper
Andy Davidson
February 2016 BFPTWCD06

Featured actors

Production

to be added

Cover gallery

Covers for the series were designed by Lee Binding.

External links

to be added


Template:TorchwoodNovelsandAudio

  1. VOR 79, Relighting Torchwood, pp. 18–20