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Jubilee
(Robert Shearman) |
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 The first release for 2003 is "Jubilee" by
acclaimed writer Robert Shearman and is his third full script for Big Finish
Productions Doctor Who audio range. It has been directed by Nicholas
Briggs and Robert Shearman and was recorded 21st and 22nd September 2002. The
story is the first to use the Dominic Glynn arrangement of the Doctor
Who theme.
Hurrah! The deadly Daleks are back and have another plan to
invade our world! and what a way to start Big Finish's own celebrations of
Doctor Who's fortieth anniversary in first-class style.
During the beginning of 2003 the Daleks have taken
over in Big Finish's latest releases, featuring in both this the highly
anticipated "Jubilee" and the long awaited return of Nicholas Briggs' epic "Dalek
Empire II: Dalek War" saga.
This most unusual story will see the Sixth
Doctor and
Evelyn
Smythe having to face once again the dreaded Daleks - though in a very
different way to their last clash with them in "The Apocalypse
Element". This story is set in a parallel contemporary England and centres
on an unusual effect that the Dalek's evil has had - 'Today the Earth,
Tomorrow the entire Universe! Nothing can stop us now … Erk it's The Doctor! Scarper!'.
This Sixth Doctor adventure with the Daleks
guest-stars Martin Jarvis as Rochester and Rosalind Ayres (Martin Jarvis' wife)
as Miriam. Both Martin and Rosalind have many film and TV credits to their
names.
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| Sixth Doctor |
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Martin Jarvis
has already appeared in Doctor Who on three occasions,
as a Menoptera in "The
Web Planet", as Butler in "Invasion
of the Dinosaurs"
and, with Colin Baker's Doctor, as The Governer in "Vengeance
on Varos". However, Martin Jarvis is perhaps most well
know for his leading role in the popular sitcom, Rings
on their Fingers and has also starred in (the original)
The Forsyte Saga, Breakaway and The Inspector
Lynley Mysteries.
Rosalind Ayres has guest-starred
on television in the likes of Profiler, Sabrina
the Teenage Witch and Casualty and has appeared
in James Cameron's Titanic (playing Martin's wife)
and as Elsa Lanchester (the Bride of Frankentein's monster)
in Gods and Monsters.
Also starring
are: Steven Elder, Kai Simmons, Jack Galagher, Georgina
Carter and providing the Dalek voices is Nicholas Briggs.
In 1903 the Daleks attempted
to invade London, but thanks to the timely intervention
by The Doctor this invasion attempt was repelled and out
of the conflict a new English Empire grew. Unbeknown to
The Doctor a harsh and brutal Empire.
As The Doctor and Evelyn
have a fierce debate on the merits of history and its
perception, the TARDIS
lands within the Tower of London. This of course is not
the first visit they have made to this very historical
building (see The Marian Conspiracy). But what timezone
are they in? Is it 1903 or 2003?
This question is soon answered
when they discover that they have arrived on the 100th
anniversary of the Daleks' defeat and that President-for-Life
Nigel Rochester governs this England, with his obedient
consort Miriam.
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| Maggie Stables |
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The Doctor and Evelyn also learn that the society
of the 2003 that they have arrived in is so radically different to what they
were expecting that it is immediately apparent that something has gone
drastically wrong with the timelines. Especially when they discover that on the
following day the President plans to celebrate the Empire's centenary: a
jubilee with coloured bunting and a public execution of the sole surviving
Dalek, who has been imprisoned in the Tower of London for the past one hundred
years.
Only a race deploying time technology - like the Daleks -
could cause such an aberration in history. But where are the Daleks now? Why is
the TARDIS so reluctant to stabilise? And why does The Doctor collapse with the
sounds of a battle ringing in his ears?
But the
greatest shock of all awaits Evelyn as she confronts the imprisoned Dalek and
to her disgust is forced to consider the implications of the past events when
she comes face to face with another prisoner - one who not only calls himself
"The Doctor" but also has no legs. As she realises that the leaders of the
English Empire have firmly embraced that The Doctor and the Daleks and are
using them both in maintaining the balance of power.
But there is
one thing which is eluding President Rochester and that is his Dalek prisoner
refuses to talk. Something he desperately wants the Dalek to do in public so
that it can be humiliated once and for all. But there are others who have plans
for the Dalek.
Unbeknown, to him the Dalek is just a drone and is no longer
a threat as it has no concept of the Dalek's urge to conquer and exterminate.
Without any commands to obey, it is nothing. Even so the threat of the Daleks
is still being used to frighten people into compliance and with that achieving
total power over the whole world including the Prime Minster of America!!
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| Jubilee Cast |
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As events unfold and the jubilee celebrations take
place it seems that the doomed Dalek seems to have gained a degree of trust
with Evelyn, whom it recognises as a fellow soldier. The chief torturer sees
little threat in the Dalek yet his subordinate Lamb knows that the Dalek is
still dangerous despite its pitiful condition.
But all the
Dalek wants is to be given orders and there is only one person who can give
them - The Doctor. But when The Doctor refuses the Dalek exterminates him and
so for the first time the Dalek becomes a threat. A bigger threat than the
Dalek realises.
The only saving grace is the perfect hero, The Doctor, is
still at hand and is able to put things right - or is he? With both The Doctor
and the Daleks used as propaganda tools, who will lose their head at Traitors'
Gate in the name of the Jubilee?
But the
greatest shock of all awaits Evelyn as she confronts the imprisoned Dalek and
to her disgust is forced to consider the implications of the past events when
she comes face to face with another prisoner - one who not only calls himself
"The Doctor" but also has no legs. As she realises that the leaders of the
English Empire have firmly embraced that The Doctor and the Daleks and are
using them both in maintaining the balance of power.
But there is
one thing which is eluding President Rochester and that is his Dalek prisoner
refuses to talk. Something he desperately wants the Dalek to do in public so
that it can be humiliated once and for all. But there are others who have plans
for the Dalek.
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| A Dalek |
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Unbeknown, to him the Dalek is just a drone and is
no longer a threat as it has no concept of the Dalek's urge to conquer and
exterminate. Without any commands to obey, it is nothing. Even so the threat of
the Daleks is still being used to frighten people into compliance and with that
achieving total power over the whole world including the Prime Minster of
America!!
As events unfold and the jubilee celebrations take place it
seems that the doomed Dalek seems to have gained a degree of trust with Evelyn,
whom it recognises as a fellow soldier. The chief torturer sees little threat
in the Dalek yet his subordinate Lamb knows that the Dalek is still dangerous
despite its pitiful condition.
But all the Dalek wants is to be given orders and
there is only one person who can give them - The Doctor. But when The Doctor
refuses the Dalek exterminates him and so for the first time the Dalek becomes
a threat. A bigger threat than the Dalek realises.
The only saving
grace is that the perfect hero, The Doctor, is still at hand and is able to put
things right - or is he? With both The Doctor and the Daleks used as propaganda
tools, who will lose their head at Traitors' Gate in the name of the Jubilee
and could The Doctor's premonition of a real Dalek invasion becoming a
reality?
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Notes:
- Featuring the Sixth
Doctor and Evelyn
Smythe.
- This story includes the Daleks.
- Serial Number: 7C/G
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 140 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 34'04", 2 = 36'08", 3 =
36'35", 4 = 36'17"
- Total Story Length: 143'04"
- This story takes place between "The
Trial of a Time Lord" and "Time
and the Rani", and after "The
Sandman".
- Cover Illustration: Clayton Hickman
- Recorded: 21st and 22nd September 2002
- Recording Location: The Moat Studios
- Released: January 2003
- ISBN: 1-84435-022-3
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On the Back Cover:
Hurrah! The
deadly Daleks are back! Yes, those loveable tinpot tyrants
have another plan to invade our world. Maybe this time
because they want to drill to the Earth's core. Or maybe
because they just feel like it.
And when those pesky pepperpots
are in town, there is one thing you can be sure of. There
will be non-stop high octane mayhem in store. And plenty
of exterminations!
But never fear.
The Doctor is on hand to sort them out. Defender of the
Earth, saviour of us all. With his beautiful assistant,
Evelyn Smythe, by his side, he will fight once again to
uphold the beliefs of the English Empire. All hail the
glorious English Empire!
Now
that sounds like a jubilee worth celebrating, does it
not? |
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On the Inside Cover:
SO HERE WE ARE
- we've reached the anniversary year! Forty years. Who
would have thought it? (Well, certainly not my parents.
They've been praying I'll grow out of the thing since
1982.)
But
it's not just the fortieth anniversary of Doctor Who.
It's also forty years since the Daleks first appeared.
And it's hard to imagine what the programme could have
been like without them...
Which is why
writing a Dalek story is so fiendishly intimidating. They're
not just another monster who menaced Doctor Who - they
are Doctor Who. The actors who've played the title
role have come and gone, but the Daleks have stayed true
to their sixties design. Whether they're appearing on
Royal Mail stamps, or guesting in ads for chocolate wafers,
they are easily the most recognisable feature of the series.
Sontarans, Wirrn, Bandrils even - only we fans remember
them, we own them they belong to us. But we've had to
share the Daleks with the general public. They outgrew
our love and moved on.
They've become icons. They've
become safe and soft, they've become funny and camp. The
boogeymen of a long ago Saturday evening children's series.
Nothing to get worried about. Nothing to take seriously.
Just a bit of fun, that's all. And that's what Jubilee,
in this jubilee year, is all about.
Night night. Sleep tight.
Take care the Daleks don't bite.
|
Robert Shearman,
December 2002 |
Robert Shearman
has written and directed award-winning plays for both
stage and radio, as well as contributing scripts to BBC
TV’s Born and Bred. However, Big Finish hi-jacked
his career and forced him at gunpoint to write a number
of scripts for them, including the poll-topping The Holy
Terror. He is currently being bullied into writing another
script for later in 2003. Oh, and he recently married
the lovely Jane Goddard. Awww… |
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Production Notes:
When
Big Finish were first asked to come up with ideas for
BBCi's second Doctor Who webcast, Robert Shearman
was the first writer they contacted to suggest storylines.
Amongst those was Dalek Invasion but the writer
very quickly realised that there was too much story to
fit into the BBCi 6 x 10 minute format and asked if he
could resubmit it as a more traditional Big Finish CD
release.
As the story turned into
Jubilee, the roles of Rochester and his wife Miriam
were written specifically for Martin Jarvis and his wife
Rosalind Ayres, both longtime friends of Robert's, who
have appeared in, and indeed specifically commissioned
from him, a number of his plays for BBO Radio 4. They
were also keen to work with Colin Baker as the three actors
were old friends - Martin also having worked with Colin
during the latter's run as Doctor Who on television
in the 1985 adventure Vengeance
on Varos. |
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Full Cast List:
| The Doctor |
Colin Baker |
| Evelyn Smythe |
Maggie Stables |
| Miriam Rochester |
Rosalind Ayres |
| Dalek Voices |
Nicholas Briggs |
| Female Movie Star |
Georgina Carter |
| Farrow |
Steven Elder |
| Male Movie Star |
Jack Galagher |
| Nigel Rochester |
Martin Jarvis |
| Lamb |
Kai Simmons |
The Production Team:
| Writer |
Robert Shearman |
| Director |
Nicholas Briggs
and Robert Shearman |
| Sound/Music |
Nicholas Briggs |
| Theme Music |
David Darlington |
| Daleks Created by |
Terry Nation |
| Producers |
Gary Russell and
Jason Haigh-Ellery |
| Executive Producer for the BBC |
Jaqueline Rayner |
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