Doctor Who: Theatre of War

Doctor Who Novel Adaptations #7

by Justin Richards

Years ago, an archaeological expedition came to Menaxus to explore the ruins of an ancient theatre. All but one of the team died. Now the only survivor has returned, determined to uncover the theatre’s secrets.

But then the deaths begin again.

The Doctor, Ace and Benny find themselves caught up in the very real events of Shakespeare’s greatest play. When they finally reach the theatre on Menaxus, the Doctor begins to realise that the truth about the planet may be far stranger than anyone imagined. With Benny doing research at the Braxiatel Collection, the Doctor and Ace head straight into an interplanetary war…

Based on the original 1994 New Adventures novel by Justin Richards.

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Science Fiction

Audio CD

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Justin Richards is a British writer. He has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range. He has also written for television, contributing to Five's soap opera Family Affairs. He is also the author of a series of crime novels for children about the Invisible Detective, and novels for older children. His Doctor Who novel The Burning was placed sixth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of 2000.

Reviews

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

01/10/2020 update:

I just love theatre of war so much!!!
-

My third time listening to Theatre of War and as always, a five star.

This is a good place to start for those who are interested in Irving Braxiatel and his friendship with Bernice.

This is a good adaptation of the novel. The novel was lengthy but this highlighted all the points and it added a nice bonus scene at the end with Braxiatel and the Doctor.

I also adore the music score in this one. I think in all honestly, big finish have upped their game with their music recently but the music in the Theatre of War is brilliant. Especially when Braxiatel shows Benny the projection scene and it completely lets you run away in your imagination.

Over all, this remains a special place for me in regards to Brax and Benny. Especially considering this is Benny's "second" time properly meeting Brax.

[Daniel Cork · Rating 4 out of 5]

So having listened to Original Sin, I thought it was about time I thought about completing the Novel Adaptations range. With only this and All-Consuming Fire left to go, I decided to pick up Theatre of War and see how it works on audio.

The Doctor and co arrive on Menaxus to find an archaeological expedition trying to uncover artifacts from an ancient theatre. However it seems The Doctor might need help from The Braxiatel Collection, so he sends Bernice Summerfield to gather information on Menaxus, where she comes across Irving Braxiatel, unbeknownst to her this is the beginning of a very complex friendship.

Justin Richards has done a great service to the story with this adaptation I feel. His original novel was too wordy and grandiose for its own good, but here it's condensed and paced together well in a way that really works for the story he's trying to tell. It feels like a simple story admittedly since it does have themes you'd find in other Who stories, but it's provided with some really inventive ideas. I love how this story also introduces lore that both the VNA's and Big Finish themselves have continued to build from. I also can't forget the fact it introduces Irving Braxiatel who's long since become such an iconic character in the expanded universe.

I really enjoyed the fact 7 and Braxiatel had a chance to communicate with each other at the end. It's a shame Big Finish hasn't done more with the two together.

Overall: A really solid adaptation that in my opinion is a little better than the novel. 8/10

[David Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justin Richards adapted his own novel for audio drama. He took some liberties with the plot, though in the essentials this is the same story. It is still complex compared with the standard Big Finish production, with more characters and settings, and more moving parts to the plot. The story itself involves Doctor 7, Ace, and Bennie at a mysterious archaeological dig that turns out to be a hologramatic theatre, except that the holograms are real enough to affect people and the theatre turns out to be more than just a theatre. There is, of course, a corrupt space empire involved. Plus, we get to meet the devious Braxiatel. This is a big story, grand scale space opera stuff. That means that there are a few plot holes so that the story can keep the scope, just a few bits of plot by convenience at the end.

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better adaptation! Actually good fun to listen to, this one, which is a relief after the horrific Gareth Roberts thing before it.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this kind of went over my head.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Who: Theatre of War was a Virgin New Adventure from May 1994 that featured the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Bernice Summerfield. It's not a novel I've read. In December 2015, it was adapted for audio as part of the short-lived Audio Adaptations range from Big Finish. Adapted by the original author from his original notes it sees the Doctor, Ace and Benny arrive in an abandoned theater that's part of an archaeological dig by a civilization that all-but-worships theater and acting. As the plot progresses, our heroes end up part of a trap designed to end the war, only it's been sprung too late. A really good story, relatively fast-paced with good writing and good acting. the highlights though, are the interactions between Benny and Braxiatel. This is Benny's first meeting with Brax from her perpsective. And that, coupled with it just being a really good story, is what makes this an excellent outing from Big Finish.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doctor, Benny and Ace land on a planet that is has an archaeological expedition on it. Benny discovers that it has to do with a collection of artifacts known as the Braxiatel Collection and goes to find out more. The Doctor and Ace stay behind and stumble into a little war. Can the trio figure out what is really going on.

[Richard Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better novel to audio adaptations, cuts through a lot of the waffle.

Always a big fan of the Doctor, Ace and Benny team though Sophie Aldred plays the younger, TV version of the character rather than the tougher one of the novels.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about the beginning of this one, but by the end, I was loving it! Quite a nice collection of characters!

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying these novel adaptions. Great to 'hear' the first meeting between Benny and Brax, and enjoyed the interviews on the extras on the discs.