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Colditz
(Steve Lloyns) |
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 "Colditz" has
been written by Steve Lloyns and has Sylvester McCoy,
as the Seventh
Doctor, and Sophie Aldred, as Ace, involved
in the notorious Second World War prison. This story is
directed by Gary Russell and was recorded on the 26th
and 27th May 2001. It was due for release in September
but it swapped places with "The
Eye of the Scorpion".
Also starring are: David
Tennant (before he was cast as the Tenth
Doctor), Tracey Childs (from Howards'
Way), Peter Rae, Toby Longworth and Nicholas Young.
Long-term
Big Finish listeners may already have noticed the deliberate
similarities between the artist Clayton Hickman's German
themed "Colditz" cover and the British themed cover for
"The
Fearmonger".
After experiencing problems
in the Vortex the TARDIS
lands in the courtyard of an imposing castle just as it
is getting dark. Ace is eager to explore and despite The Doctor's warning they leave the safety of the TARDIS.
As they near the stone walls The Doctor suddenly realises
where they have landed and he is not happy especially
when the darkness of the courtyard is suddenly bathed
in the harsh light from a couple of flood lights.
But
before they can return to the safety of the TARDIS German
voices order them to remain still. Then gun shots ring
out and The Doctor is hit in the arm. With The Doctor
injured Ace (who for this story goes under the moniker
of McShane) is forced to comply and it is then that they
are informed that for them the war is over and that Third
Reich's prison fortress Oflag 4C, which is more commonly
known as Colditz Castle, is now their new home…
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| Seventh Doctor |
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While The Doctor is taken to the sick bay Ace
finds herself being taken to a cell. Accused of being a British spy Ace is
interrogated and threatened by a German Officer. As Ace learns by trial and
error of the new regime that she has found herself in she realises that she is
in real danger especially from the bitter and twisted Feldwebel (Sergeant)
Kurtz who has some rather nasty ideas to make his new female prisoner's time
uncomfortable in the extreme.
Much to the German's initial bafflement The Doctor
quickly recovers from his injuries. But the Germans are much more interested in
the contents of Ace's rucksack and The Doctor's TARDIS even if it means
threatening to shoot Ace so as to get The Doctor to reveal its secrets. As if
things could not get any worse The Doctor then finds himself confronted by the
mysterious Nazi scientist Klein. It turns out that Klein was expecting The Doctor and his companion to arrive and for some strange reason she seems to
know more about The Doctor, his companion and of time travel then is healthy
for someone living in 1944.
It becomes clear to Ace that her very presence in
the prison is preventing The Doctor from resisting the German's threats and
that she is The Doctor's main weakness. She befriends an RAF Flying Officer and
with his help she starts to formulate a way of escaping from Germany's most
infamous and notoriously un-escapable World War II prison camp.
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Ace |
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The Doctor is forced to make an astonishing choice
when he realises that his very presence in Colditz Castle may have changed
history. As Klein reveals her secrets he also realises that he may be unable to
prevent a predestined tragedy that involves Ace's determination to
escape.
As Ace puts her escape plan into action, with the help of
some of the British prisoners, The Doctor also makes an attempt to escape from
Colditz Castle and so foil Klein's plans. But as events spiral out of control
both he and Ace find themselves recaptured and convinced that there is a spy in
the camp. But The Doctor has much more to worry about than the Germans
determined to use the TARDIS to further their war effort. He also has to
prevent Klein from carrying out her plans that will ultimately lead to a future
where the Germans win the war.
But who is Klein and why is The Doctor convinced
that she does not belong in 1944? Why is she so interested in The Doctor rather
than his time machine? And why does Ace's role in events play such a pivotal
part of current events and why will her choice in music threaten the outcome of
the war? And why, even when the TARDIS is out of harms way, is The Doctor still
desperate to get history back on track? What else has caused the paradox that
The Doctor is desperately trying to prevent?
The Doctor's
interference has caused a train of events that has already had disastrous
consequences...
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Notes:
- Featuring the Seventh
Doctor and Ace.
- Serial Number: 7U
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 110 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 25'47", 2 = 26'49", 3 =
26'32", 4 = 28'07"
- This story takes place takes place after "Survival".
- Cover Illustration: Clayton Hickman
- Recorded: 26th and 27th May 2001.
- Recording Location: The Moat Studios
- Released: October 2001
- ISBN: 1-903654-47-5
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On the
Back Cover:
As World War Two draws towards its conclusion, a
Nazi defeat begins to seem almost inevitable. But that might be about to
change...
Two intruders are captured in the grounds of Colditz Castle,
the most secure Prisoner of War camp in Germany.
At first, the
guards think they're dealing with British spies. But the strangers arrived in
an advanced travelling machine, the like of which they've never seen
before.
With this "TARDIS" in their hands, the Third Reich might
triumph after all.
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On the Inside
Cover:
Once again, a big thanks to Neil Blomley, who suggested
sending The Doctor to Colditz, and who also provided me with some great
reference material. Thanks also to Chris Howarth, Neil Harding and Jason
Lythgoe-Hay, who helped Out with some of the details of Klein's past - and to
the usual suspects at "the Brain Trust", who provided answers to a few
questions.
Almost everything I needed to know about Colditz, I learned
from an ex-inmate, Major Pat Reid, via his excellent books on the subject,
The Colditz Story and The Latter Days of Colditz. They're out of
print now, but well worth finding if you can. The true story of the brave and
resourceful men who were sent to Oflag IV C is much more fascinating and
inspiring than I'd ever imagined, and this play is dedicated to them.
|
Steve Lyons,
July 2001
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Full Cast
List:
| Part One |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Ace |
Sophie Aldred |
| Feldwebel Kutz |
David Tennant |
| Hauptmann Julius
Schäfer |
Toby Longworth |
| Flying Officer Bill Gower |
Nicholas Young |
| Timothy Wilkins |
Peter Rae |
| Klein |
Tracey Childs |
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| Part Two |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Ace |
Sophie Aldred |
| Klein |
Tracey Childs |
| Timothy Wilkins |
Peter Rae |
| Feldwebel Kutz |
David Tennant |
| Hauptmann Julius
Schäfer |
Toby Longworth |
| Flying Officer Bill Gower |
Nicholas Young |
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| Part Three |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Ace |
Sophie Aldred |
| Klein |
Tracey Childs |
| Timothy Wilkins |
Peter Rae |
| Flying Officer Bill Gower |
Nicholas Young |
| Feldwebel Kutz |
David Tennant |
| Hauptmann Julius
Schäfer |
Toby Longworth |
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| Part Four |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Ace |
Sophie Aldred |
| Feldwebel Kutz |
David Tennant |
| Klein |
Tracey Childs |
| Timothy Wilkins |
Peter Rae |
| Hauptmann Julius
Schäfer |
Toby Longworth |
| Flying Officer Bill Gower |
Nicholas Young |
The
Production Team:
| Writer |
Steve Lyons |
| Director |
Gary Russell |
| Sound/Music |
Toby Richards and
Emily
Baker |
| Theme Music |
Mark Ayres |
| Producers |
Gary Russell and
Jason
Haigh-Ellery |
| Executive Producer for the BBC
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Jaqueline Rayner |
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