STORY PLOTLINE

Autumn 1944.

A Nazi defeat seemed inevitable but there was Time for things to change. Colditz Castle claimed to the most secure establishment in Germany but not for a TARDIS.

With the Doctor and his Companion captured, the Third Reich now has his ‘travelling machine’ and their sights set on triumph.

COMMENT  Spoliers ahead

With a plethora of ‘real-life’ Colditz Castle Camp documentaries on British television over recent years, any science fiction drama will attract a greater degree of scrutiny than a drama set on a space ship; scrutiny that could result in criticism.

The dimensional-paradox dénouement of episode theee is the key to this all-new drama, but it takes along an age to be revealed by the villainous and enigmatic Rani-esque, Klein.

Tracey Childs, as the fanatical yet somber Klein, hooks the listener theoughout, eagerly awaited for her next scheming scene. The character is expertly ‘accentuated’ by Childs, fluctuating the Anglo Germanic inflection across the story as she reveals her true mission from the future; a triumph of professional direction by Gary Russell that has been lacking from many of his attempts.

The ‘repertory’ players are well rounded: starkly ferocious Kurt by Tennant and the affable ‘goon’ Schäfer by Longworth form the two extremes of the ‘baddies’. Nicholas Young as nonchalant schemer Flyer Officer William Young and the naïve schemer Timothy Wilkins form the two extremes of the ‘goodies’.

And now the ‘leads’; McCoy and Aldred. Sylvester McCoy, following his re-birth in THE FIRES OF VULCAN, continues to be endearingly manipulative as the Doctor. Sophie Aldred sufficiently survives a workman-like script proving that she can be adaptable and adept – the TV series never gave her that opportunity. Writers of the TV series and Big Finish have yet to comprehend and accept that Ace needs to mature.

The music score capitalises upon the strength of the setting, if a little heavy-handed at times, however it is the post-production and sound-design that seems less polished than the previous Big Finish audio dramas.

COLDITZ is a satisfying drama that is neither a TIMELASH nor a THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI but one that adequately spans the gap of between expectation and quality.