In some respects, ‘The Massacre’ is Schrodinger’s Historical. A story that exists in three potential states, none of which quite allow us a glimpse of what it was really like. It is opaque, we view it through a haze or via our own chosen lens. To switch to a religious metaphor – we have theContinue reading “The Massacre of St Bartholomew’s Eve by John Lucarotti or Donald Tosh (1965)”
Tag Archives: Historical
The Aztecs by John Lucarotti (1964)
‘The little I know about them doesn’t impress me. Cutting out people’s hearts.’ ‘Oh, that was only one side to their nature. The other side was highly civilised.’ ‘A vision is with us and shall stand before them. And I, in supplication to the Rain God, shall offer human blood. The rains will come. NoContinue reading “The Aztecs by John Lucarotti (1964)”
The Marian Conspiracy by Jacqueline Rayner (2000)
In which the Sixth Doctor meets a new best friend and Evelyn learns that history isn’t always quite as it seems. This is a very early Big Finish release (no. 6 released in March 2000, when the universe was less than half its present size – or at least a much nicer place) and IContinue reading “The Marian Conspiracy by Jacqueline Rayner (2000)”
The Council of Nicaea by Caroline Symcox (2005)
In which the Fifth Doctor, Peri and Erimem discover a schism in the Christian church in Nicaea in (modern-day Turkey) 325AD and Erimem upsets the Emperor Constantine. Well, it isn’t often that you get to review a ‘Doctor Who’ story written by your local vicar! The author of this play – Caroline Symcox (married toContinue reading “The Council of Nicaea by Caroline Symcox (2005)”
The Church and the Crown by Mark Wright and Cavan Scott (2002)
In which the Fifth Doctor, Peri and Erimem end up in an Alexandre Dumas novel – a tale of Musketeers, Richelieu’s guards, court politics, Queen Anne, a vain King Louis and the Duke of Buckingham’s attempts to invade France! There are quite a few different ways to do a ‘Doctor Who’ historical – one isContinue reading “The Church and the Crown by Mark Wright and Cavan Scott (2002)”
The Angel of Scutari by Paul Sutton (2009)
In which Hex meets one of his heroes and Ace gets chatted up by Tolstoy! Now this is a story I should really love. Set during the Crimean War, this is partly a homage to Tolstoy’s ‘Sebastapol Sketches’, which I’ve read a couple of times – I became obsessed with Tolstoy for some reason inContinue reading “The Angel of Scutari by Paul Sutton (2009)”
The Settling by Simon Guerrier (2006)
In which Hex meets an infamous figure from his family’s past and the Doctor delivers a baby. And we finally get a story set in Ireland. I can’t think of many of those in any of the thousands of ‘Doctor Who’ books, audios and TV stories. From Big Finish – ‘The Book of Kells’, ‘IterationsContinue reading “The Settling by Simon Guerrier (2006)”
The Son of the Dragon by Steve Lyons (2007)
In which the Doctor, Peri and Erimem travel to 15th century Wallachia and meet Vlad the Impaler – Dracula (the ‘Son of the Dragon’ of the title), see his handiwork and meet his brother ‘Radu the Handsome’ (less inclined to impale people on the whole and presumably mote handsome!). ‘Farewell, Great Macedon’ aside, this isContinue reading “The Son of the Dragon by Steve Lyons (2007)”
The Kingmaker by Nev Fountain (2006)
In which: ‘Doctor Who Discovers: The Secret of the Princes in the Tower’, Peri pulls something off and Erimem breaks a few arms. I’m not really sure where to start with this one! After a number of serious plays, this is very different take on a historical ‘Doctor Who’ story – basically placing the TARDISContinue reading “The Kingmaker by Nev Fountain (2006)”
Farewell Great Macedon by Moris Fahri (adapted by Nigel Robinson) (2010)
‘Farewell Alexander! Farewell Great Macedon!’ This ‘Lost Story’ is an absolute gem, to my mind the match of the best of the TV historical stories. It was originally written for season one and such is the quality of the script it is a bit perplexing that it wasn’t made. Moris Fahri (an Anglo-Turkish writer, whoContinue reading “Farewell Great Macedon by Moris Fahri (adapted by Nigel Robinson) (2010)”
A Journal of Impossible Things 