A Theatre of Cruelty (audio story)

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.

A Theatre of Cruelty

Doctor:

Featuring:

Main enemy:

Main setting:

Key crew

Publisher:

Big Finish Productions

Writer:

Director:

Producer:

Music:

Sound:

Cover by:

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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Run	The Running Men

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[[edit] | [edit source]]

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[[edit] | [edit source]]

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.