Paul McGann to star in special live recording of Big Finish’s Eighth Doctor Adventures – UPDATED!
Celebrate 25 years of Big Finish’s Doctor Who audio dramas with a live recording of new Eighth Doctor adventure ‘The Stuff of Legend’.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of licensed Doctor Who audio dramas, Big Finish Theatre, in partnership with BBC Studios, Fourth Wall Live and AEG, is proud to announce a unique full-cast live recording event, taking place at Cadogan Hall, London on Saturday 14 September 2024.
For the very first time, Doctor Who fans will be able to watch an all-star cast take to the stage to perform a brand-new audio play, THE STUFF OF LEGEND, by Robert Valentine.
Leading the cast is Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and India Fisher as his indomitable companion Charley Pollard. They’ll be joined onstage by Alex Macqueen as the Master alongside Nicholas Briggs, who voices the Doctor’s unstoppable arch-enemy, the Daleks.
Something is afoot in the lonely Cornish village of Merrymaid Bay. Rumours of dead men working in the tin mines have sent a chill through the community, and it’s up to the Doctor and Charley to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Can the legends of the Bucca that haunts the mines be true? And just what awesome power do the Doctor’s greatest enemies – the Daleks! – threaten to unleash upon the universe?
Big Finish executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery said:
“25 years? It feels like 25 seconds! Producing the audio adventures of Doctor Who has been such a joy that two and a half decades has flown by – almost as if we have all been in the time vortex with the Doctor.
“We’ve enjoyed ourselves so much producing thousands of hours of audio drama adventures – and now we have the chance to show fans of the series how the audio productions are made, with a new live performance – the first time Doctor Who has been performed live on stage since 1989.”
Dominic Walker, Global Business Director at BBC Studios, added:
“After 25 years of working with Big Finish on the Doctor Who audio adventures, BBC Studios is excited to now be bringing a live version to the stage. THE STUFF OF LEGEND is a fitting celebration and I am delighted that fans will be able to witness the recording of such a momentous anniversary story up close and personal.”
Cadogan Hall has limited capacity so fans are advised to book quickly to avoid disappointment.
Alongside the live stage show recording, a full-cast studio production of DOCTOR WHO: THE STUFF OF LEGEND will be released at bigfinish.com on 14 September 2024. This will also be available to purchase as a collector’s edition CD at the event.
Tickets are available to order from Friday 5th July at doctorwhoaudiolive.com.
Additional performances of the full-cast live recording event have been added at 2:30pm and 6:30pm on Sunday 15th September 2024, with fans urged to book quickly to avoid disappointment.
The event – which is being held at London’s Cadogan Hall – will see an all-star cast led by McGann as the Eighth Doctor take to the stage to perform the audio drama live.
That cast also includes India Fisher as companion Charley Pollard, Alex Macqueen as the Master and Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks, and the official synopsis teases: “Something is afoot in the lonely Cornish village of Merrymaid Bay.
“Rumours of dead men working in the tin mines have sent a chill through the community, and it’s up to the Doctor and Charley to get to the bottom of the mystery.”
It continues:
“Can the legends of the Bucca that haunts the mines be true? And just what awesome power do the Doctor’s greatest enemies – the Daleks! – threaten to unleash upon the universe?”
If you’re looking to get your hands on some tickets, they’re available to order on the Doctor Who Audio Adventures Live website from 10am on Wednesday 31st July, with prices beginning at £18.
“Taking a Big Finish Doctor Who audio drama to the stage is something we’ve always wanted to do, and now it’s finally happening,” McGann said of the event.
“Raise the curtain, lower the house lights, and start playing the theme. It’s time to step on board the TARDIS and set off on a brand new adventure.”
Fisher added: “I love playing Charley, and she’s been part of my life for over two decades. Paul and I have shared so many amazing adventures, but always from a sound booth.
“I’m really excited to be performing in front of a live audience. It’s going to take it to a whole new level. It’ll be electric, I can’t wait.”
Meanwhile, Doctor Who brand director Vanessa Hamilton said that she was “delighted that the response to Doctor Who Audio Live has been so positive, and that we are able to provide additional opportunities to fans to watch an all-star cast take to the stage”.
The full studio production of Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend will be released on 14th September 2024. Big Finish listeners can pre-order this adventure now for just £15.99 (collector’s edition double CD + download) or £12.99 (download only) at bigfinish.com. The collector’s edition CD will also be available to purchase at the event.