The Hollow Crown

"The theatre is no place for politics."

Writer: Sarah Grochala 

Format: Audio

Released: April 2021

Series: First Doctor Adventures 5.02

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

When the TARDIS lands in Shoreditch, 1601, the Doctor suggests going to see a play at the Globe Theatre and his friends readily agree.

But this is a turbulent time. There is violence in the street, plots against the Queen, and rebellion is in the air. At the centre of it all stands the most famous playwright in British history – William Shakespeare – who is having troubles of his own.

As tensions mount and wheels turn within wheels, the travellers are about to discover if the play really is the thing...

Verdict

The Hollow Crown was an excellent story to conclude the fifth series of First Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a fitting finale and I liked the continuity from For the Glory of Urth with Susan ripping apart the TARDIS console because she knew what the issue with the systems were. That seemed to be an actual bug in the form of Goliath spiny beetle which was intriguing, but sadly we didn't get any further continuation from there. The insinuation that the previous users of the TARDIS were the culprits was marvellous and I liked the brief moments where it seemed that the Doctor was fully in control of the navigational circuits. He claimed he'd brought Ian and Barbara home, and whilst they did get to London they were in Shakespearean times rather than the 1960s which was fun. I liked that they were thought of as foreign and that established the political tension going down during this time. Jude's introduction was strong and I liked how with the TARDIS being stolen and the impossibility of a second Shakespeare son, there was a lot going on here. Barbara was quick to point out that he was an imposter as Shakespeare's only son was Hamlet, and the playwright himself was a lot of fun and acknowledged previously meeting a young man who went by that title in a terrific reference to The Shakespeare Code. Lady Rich was a stellar character and her efforts to try and stir a rebellion by playing the uncut version of Richard II was excellent. Jude running off with Susan was fun stuff with the youngsters getting captured by the guard and the former was incredibly mouthy despite the predicament. Ian arriving to save her but then getting seemingly killed for the cliffhanger was good stuff. Rich arriving to save was unexpected but I did like that she enlisted Susan and Jude to try and convince that the play be performed. The absence of Elizabeth I was felt strongly and that fuelled the desire for Rich to want an uprising. The TARDIS being in the monarch's gardens was amusing stuff, and I thought the revelation that Jude was actually a girl was well done. Cecil's men attacking at the Globe was brilliant and trying to prevent the play was very good. The part two cliffhanger of Shakespeare being arrested on treason was terrific, but the Doctor being arrested immediately after naming himself at the Tower of London was more fantastic continuity and foreknowledge coming into play with The Day of the Doctor felt strongly. Rich leading the uprising was tremendous and I loved that no clear line of succession equalled chaos. She wanted to install her brother the Earl of Essex as King, but Barbara called against that which was superb. The threat of her being a witch was amusing but Essex arrived with vengeance against his sister and he made it clear she didn't speak for him. He wanted to save the Queen from Cecil who wanted a Spaniard on the thrown which was excellent stuff and a wonderful use of the historical politics at play. Ian and Barbara wanting to help despite history saying they shouldn't and was against what they believed was right was fantastic, and I loved that they encouraged going unarmed to show peace. Rich being in the crowd and up to no good was fun and I loved the emphatic arrival of Elizabeth alongside Susan. Someone firing in the crowd to cause unrest was nicely done and Barbara seemingly getting caught in the crowd fire was a really strong final cliffhanger, although the resolution being that her horse just reared was a bit of a disappointment. Rich turning evil and shooting Jude and then her brother in the foot was a good late development. Cecil wanting to build relationships between the Catholics and the Spanish again was a good motive and great history. Cecil being challenged on that by the Queen was a highlight, but the emotion that came from Essex still being taken for the death penalty for his political failures was palpable. I didn't see that coming and he was loyal to the end, but the Doctor was quick to find an imposter replacement. Tom from the jail took that role whilst Essex went off to the Americas, and Rich escaped too despite Ian and Barbara giving stern comments to her about her actions and a dark foreshadowing of her future. The cliffhanger finish of the TARDIS dematerialising and someone of immense power seemingly being behind it was wonderful, especially after the Doctor uncharacteristically agreed to stay behind! Overall, a terrific listen!

Rating: 9/10