A Theatre of Cruelty (audio story)

A Theatre of Cruelty
Doctor:	Ninth Doctor
Featuring:	Antonin
Main enemy:	Astraphi
Main setting:	Paris, 1935
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Lisa McMullin
Director:	Helen Goldwyn
Producer:	David Richardson
Music:	Howard Carter
Sound:	Iain Meadows
Cover by:	Caroline Tankersley
Release details
Number of parts:	1
Release number:	3.1
Part of:	Buried Threats
Release date:	16 February 2024
Format:	1 CD Download 1st of 3 stories
Production code:	BFPDW9TH09
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-80240-132-5 (physical); ISBN 978-1-80240-133-2 (digital)
The Ninth Doctor Adventures
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A Theatre of Cruelty was the first story in the audio anthology Buried Threats, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Lisa McMullin and featured Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.

Publisher's summary

Someone or something is manipulating the dreams of French playwright Antonin Artaud. As Artaud's nightmares are made manifest, the Doctor is compelled to intervene. Otherwise, Artaud's new idea for an immersive theatre could become a ticket to literally die for.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Christopher Eccleston
• Antonin Artaud - Alexander Vlahos
• Beatrice Cenci - Elisabeth Yorke-Bolognini
• The Astraphi / Actor - Angus Dunican

Worldbuilding

The Doctor

• After hearing someone shouting out "nine", the Doctor misunderstandly says they are "sort of" correct.
• When visiting La Petrella de Salto in Rome in 1601, the Doctor claims to have a Papal dispensation to bypass the Cardinal's order to keep people out.

History

• Beatrice Cenci was sentenced to death on 11 September 1599. She was killed on the St Angelo Bridge.
• The Doctor was involved in these events, and will never forget her face.

Literature and art

• A portrait of Beatrice Cenci is regularly attributed to painter Guido Reni. The Doctor "borrows" it from the Louvre.
• Percy Shelley wrote a play about Cenci, as will Lizzie Hopley. Hopley's radio play is nominated for an award.
• There is another rendition of her life by Spielberg.
• The Ninth Doctor believes William Shakespeare was the "greatest dramatist of all time".

Games

• The Doctor hopes that Antonin is not about to involve him in a game of zip, zap, boing during the actors' warm-up.
• Larry Olivier once "embroiled" the Doctor in a game of duck, duck, goose at the National Theatre, with Joan Plowright and Peter O'Toole.

Notes

• Percy Shelley wrote his play about Cenci in 1819. Lizzie Hopley's radio play, entitled The Cenci Family, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as an Afternoon Play on 21 March 2006, and was specifically nominated for a Sony Radio Academy Award.

Continuity

to be added

Cover gallery

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  Textless cover

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  Alternate cover

External links

• Official A Theatre of Cruelty page at bigfinish.com