The Gathering (audio story)

The Gathering
Doctor:	[[doctor::Fifth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Tegan Jovanka
Main enemy:	The Cybermen
Main setting:	Earth, Australia, Brisbane, September, 22nd, 2006
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::Big Finish]]
Writer:	Joseph Lidster
Director:	Gary Russell
Producer:	David Darlington
Release details
Release number:	87
Release date:	September 2006
Format:	2 Episodes on 2 CDs
Production code:	6Q/J
ISBN:	ISBN 1-84435-195-5

Publisher's Summary

On the morning of 22 September 2006, Tegan woke up. She was expecting to spend the day relaxing at home and, that evening, tolerate a party thrown to celebrate her 46th birthday.

But things don't always go as expected ­ it's been over twenty years since she chose to leave the Doctor. She's got a job, mates... a life.

Meanwhile her friend, Katherine Chambers, makes a decision that could change all their lives, and Tegan discovers that you can never really escape the past.

Cast

• The Doctor - Peter Davison
• Tegan - Janet Fielding
• Katherine Chambers - Jane Perry
• James Clarke - Richard Grieve
• Michael Tanaka - Dait Abuchi
• Eve Morris - Janie Booth
• Jodi Boyd - Zehra Naqvi
• Waiter - Jef Higgins
• Alan Fitzgerald - Nicholas Briggs
• Rosemary Stark - Belinda Hoare

References

• Tegan mentions having friends 'mowed down by Daleks', her possession by the Mara, and nearly being killed by Cybermen.
• James Clarke is hinted to be an agent of The Forge.

Notes

• The story states that something will cause the Doctor to lose some of the memories of his Fifth incarnation. What will cause this has not yet been revealed.
• This is the one and only appearance of Janet Fielding in a Big Finish audio drama: Fielding has stated this is a one time occurrence. However, since the appearence, it was announced in the Big Finish Podcast (July) that Fielding will return to Big Finish in 2010, alongside The Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Turlough
• This audio drama is part of a loose trilogy encompassing: The Reaping, The Gathering and The Harvest.

Continuity

• Tegan last appeared in DW: Resurrection of the Daleks.
• The 'Sister' computer system appears in BFA: The Harvest.
• The Doctor mentions dropping his companions in Monte Carlo, which ties in with the events of BFA: The Veiled Leopard.
• Tegan mentions the Mara (DW:Kinda and Snakedance) and nearly being killed by Cybermen (Earthshock and The Five Doctors).

Timeline

The Gathering has a somewhat difficult timeline...

Over all adventures for the Fifth Doctor

• The Gathering occurs after: The Veiled Leopard

For the Fifth Doctor (in terms of personal continuity)

• The Gathering occurs before: The Reaping

For everyone on Earth

• The Gathering occurs after: The Reaping
• The Gathering occurs before: The Harvest

External Links

• Big Finish The Gathering page
• The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of The Gathering