Mask of Tragedy (audio story)

Athens, 421 BC. An ancient civilisation of philosophers and poets and the birthplace of theatre. The Doctor has decided to show Ace and Hector how it all began, with help from the great comedian Aristophanes.

But life in Athens is no laughing matter. There’s the ever-present threat of invasion from the Spartan horde. The plague that turns people into the walking dead. The slavery. The tyrannical rule of the paranoid, malicious Cleon and his network of informers. And the giant flying beetle with knives for wings that stalks the city streets at night.

What Athens needs is a hero. And who better to be a hero in ancient Greece than a man called Hector?

Plot

Part One

to be added

Part Two

to be added

Part Three

to be added

Part Four

to be added

Cast

The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Ace - Sophie Aldred
Hector Thomas - Philip Olivier
Aristophanes - Samuel West
Cleon - Alisdair Simpson
Tyrgius/Slave Trader/Boy - Russell Bentley
Telephus/Cisyphus/Old Man - Tim Treloar
Adonia/Lysistrata - Emily Tucker

References

Ace refers to Hollyoaks.
Ace describes the Time Lords as "the men in high collars".
The Doctor wears a toga. However, he still carries his umbrella.
Aristophanes is aware of the existence of time travel and asks Ace what century she is from. The Doctor tells her and Hector that Ancient Greece is a hotspot for time travelling tourists.
The Doctor is Aristophanes' sponsor.
Athens has been at war with Sparta for many years.
Tyrgius mistakes Aristophanes for Euripides.
The Doctor previously visited Athens in the company of Melanie Bush, who corrected Euclid's geometry, much to his annoyance.
Ace refers to herself as "Germaine Greer".
Aristophanes and Cleon knew each other when they were children.
In 422 BC, Aristophanes wrote a play entitled The Wasps in which he mocked jurors, accusing them of being corrupt and in Cleon's pay.
The Doctor claims that he is 900 years ago.
The Doctor refers to Wham!, One Direction and Wikipedia.

Notes

This story was recorded at The Moat Studios.

Continuity

The Doctor decided to take Ace and Hector to Athens in 421 BC after defeating the Swarm on the asteroid K4067 in the 52nd century. (AUDIO: Revenge of the Swarm)
During his first incarnation, the Doctor found Aristophanes and Eratosthenes arguing in a library in Egypt in the 4th century B.C.. (PROSE: The Book of Shadows) During his fourth incarnation, he and Leela met him at a gathering at Anaximander's house. (PROSE: The Brain of Socrates)
At some point prior to his seventh incarnation, the Doctor saved two of Aristophanes' plays from the burning of the Library of Alexandria in the 5th century. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Apocalypse)
The Doctor tells Aristophanes that Hector is still recovering from having been controlled by the Swarm in 4920 and the 52nd century. (AUDIO: Revenge of the Swarm)

External links

Official Mask of Tragedy page at bigfinish.com