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Absolution
(Scott Alan Woodard) |
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 Written
by Scott Alan Woodard and directed by Barnaby Edwards
the release for October 2007 was "Absolution" -
an Eighth
Doctor story, starring Paul McGann, and with
his companions Charley
Pollard and C’rizz. This
story was recorded on the 26th and 27th June 2007. This
is Scott Alan Woodard's second Doctor Who Audio
release for Big Finish Productions. His first being "The
Juggernauts" released in January 2005.
The
Doctor and his two companions find themselves at a turning
point in their lives.
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| Eighth Doctor |
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With the
announcement that the Eighth Doctor would be appearing
in his own series of audio adventures, with new companion
Lucie Miller, on the digital radio station BBC7 in the
early part of 2007, and with the subsequent announcement
that a second series was being planned, Big Finish Productions
have decided to end the inclusion of the Eighth Doctor
in their main Doctor Who audio range. This story will
therefore be the last for long-running companion C’rizz’s
played by Conrad Westmaas.
As explained
by executive producer Nicholas Briggs 'Conrad
has done such good work for us over the years so we knew
he needed a great, dramatic send off. Tears are shed
and feathers are ruffled, which leads directly into our
December release, “The
Girl Who Never Was”...'
Joining
Paul McGann, India Fisher and Conrad Westmaas, in "Absolution",
are: Robert Glenister ("The
Caves of Androzani"),
Christopher Villiers ("The
King's Demons" and
Emmerdale) and Natalie Mendoza (Hotel Babylon).
Also starring are: Tony Barton and Geoff Breton.
When Charley
becomes interested in an artefact belonging to C'rizz,
The Doctor's Eutermesan companion, the TARDIS breaks
down in a forbidden sector of space trapped between Heaven
and Hell.
The Doctor's
sins are catching up with him and he and his two companions
find themselves in grave danger – for which one
of them will result in the end of their travels in the
TARDIS.
Then
the TARDIS starts to split apart and C'rizz finds himself
separated from The Doctor and Charley and in a strange
world. Ghostly voices cry out for salvation and only
C'rizz, can answer their call - for only he knows the
secret of the Absolver. But will he use it to rescue
his friends or save the universe?
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| India Fisher |
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With strange
things happening to the TARDIS can The Doctor and Charley
trust what they are seeing is real or is it all a fantasy?
What is happening to The TARDIS and is The Doctor’s
time machine really dying? What has happened to C'rizz
and how has he got caught up with the infernal beast
Borarus?
The truth
behind C'rizz’s true is revealed and even The Doctor
is shocked to discover the damage he has done when he
allowed C'rizz to join him on his travels away from the
Divergents Universe.
Time is running out and Judgement Day is at hand and
for The Doctor nothing will ever be the same again as
he is on the brink of losing not one but possible both
of his travelling companions…
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Notes:
- Featuring the Eighth
Doctor, Charley
Pollard and C'rizz.
- Serial Number: 8YD
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 120 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 24'10", 2 = 25'11",
3 = 24'12", 4 = 27'51"
- Total Story Length: 101'24"
- Also features 47 minutes of music, trailers
and special behind-the-scenes interviews with
the cast
and producers.
- This story takes place after "Doctor
Who: The Movie" and after "Memory
Lane".
- Cover Illustration: Alex Mallinson
- Recorded: 26th and 27th June 2007
- Recording Location: Moat Studios
- Released: October 2007
- ISBN: 978-1-84435-183-1
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On the Back Cover:
Confession.
Penance. Absolution.
The
TARDIS breaks down in a forbidden sector of space.
Ghostly voices cry out for salvation and only C'rizz,
The Doctor's Eutermesan companion, can answer their
call - for only he knows the secret of the Absolver.
But will he use it to rescue his friends or save the
universe?
The
Doctor's sins are catching up with him and the infernal
beast Borarus is hungry. Time is running out and Judgement
Day is at hand.
Welcome
to Hell.
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On the Inside Cover:
Directors Notes: Barnaby Edwards
”The
premise of Absolution is nothing lens than monumental
and I think it’s fair to say we all gulped
a good few times when Scott’s first draft came
in. It was just so big:
an infernal city a planet of fire, an eviscerated TARDIS,
flying demons...
But initial reactions can be deceptive. Absolution is at heart a very small story of love and loss, the
larger catastrophe of Utebbadon-Tarria mirroring the
more personal tragedy that befalls the TARDIS crew.
It was obvious we would need same exceptional actors
to wrest the human story from all the spectacular trappings.
Fortunately, we were in the safest of hands with Robert
Glenister, Christopher Villiers and Natalie Mendoza,
who were all determined to keep the drama firmly grounded
in believable emotions. I was glad, too, of Tony and
Geoff who provided much needed comic relief.
Absolution was not the easiest story to direct,
but I’m very pleased with the results. I hope
Conrad is, too.”
Quotes: Conrad Westmaas
”My
first memory of life on this planet, I’m ashamed
to say, is the Sea
Devils coming out of the sea - that’s
the first thing I can remember which explains a lot.
So, yeah, I was chuffed to buckets when Gary asked me.
“One of the many jobs I did - as an actor -
I worked far Doctor Who Magazine for 5 months. And
I think as a bit of a leaving present... Clayton Hickman
and Gary Russell just did a bit of a deal in a darkened
room somewhere and just gave me a bit part in a Peter
Davison play... And I was like, ‘Right! I’m
in Doctor Who, for a day, I’m going to have this!’ So,
I ludicrously over-prepared and really gave it my all
- and just had a great day - and then Gary called me
up - a couple of weeks later, I think it was - and
said, ‘We’re looking for a new companion
for the 8th Doctor, would you like to do it?’ After
an initial, sort of shocked, moment - and I had to
pinch myself - I just went, ‘God, yes! Bring
it on!’ and have been doing it ever since...
Fantastic.”
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Who's Who?
The Eighth Doctor
First television appearance: Doctor Who
First Big Finish audio appearance: "Storm
Warning"
After
a prolonged time trapped in an alternative universe,
the Eighth Doctor recently found his way home, along
with his longtime companion Charley Pollard and their
new Etttermesan friend, C’rizz. Since returning,
they’ve faced dangers on alien planets, in
Victorian high society and, most terrifying of all,
a future Earth populated entirely by The Doctor’s
oldest and most bitter foes, the Daleks. Wherever
the TARDIS takes him, it seems there’s no respite...
Charley Pollard
First Big Finish audio appearance: "Storm
Warning".
Charley
was rescued by The Doctor from aboard the ill-fated
R101 airship in 1930. With scant regard for her own
safety, and thus against The Doctor’s wishes,
she went with her new best friend into the Divergent
Universe, knowing that she might never see Earth
- or anyone she has known and loved - ever again.
However, after resisting a number of temptations
to abandon The Doctor and C’rizz, she stuck
by them and has been rewarded by returning to her
own universe. Whether that proves to be a wise or
safer course of action remains to be seen...
C'rizz
First Big Finish audio appearance: "The
Creed of the Kromon".
A
Eutermesan, C’rizz’s natural curiosity
made him join The Doctor and Charley and, although
an outwardly peaceful man, the truth has slowly been
emerging that his past might not have been as pure
and innocent as Charley and The Doctor currently
believe. Genetically engineered to absorb the colours,
emotions and even ideals of those around him, he
now fights to stop himself getting lost amongst the
myriad personalities that co-exist within his mind.
Personalities that were once alive but now are dead – seemingly
at C’rizz’s own hands. Personalities
that his travelling companions must remain ignorant
of. |
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Full Cast List:
| The Doctor |
Paul McGann |
| Charley Pollard |
India Fisher |
| C'rizz |
Conrad Westmaas |
| Aboresh |
Robert Glenister |
| Cacothis |
Christopher Villiers |
| Lolanthia |
Natalie Mendoza |
| Straith |
Tony Barton |
| Phelgreth |
Geoff Breton |
The Production Team:
| Writer |
Scott Alan Woodard |
| Director |
Barnaby Edwards |
| Sound/Music |
Simon Robinson |
| Theme Music |
David Darlington |
| Script Editor |
Alan Barnes |
| Producer |
Sharon Gosling |
| Executive Producers |
Nicholas Briggs
and Jason Haigh-Ellery |
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