Torchwood (audio drama series)

Torchwood
Big Finish Productions audio drama
Series	Torchwood
Produced by	James Goss
Executive producer(s)	Jason Haigh-Ellery Nicholas Briggs
Release date	15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) – Present

Torchwood is a series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions based on the British television programme of the same name. Like its TV counterpart, the audio dramas follow the exploits of the operatives who work for the Torchwood Institute – a secret organisation that defends Earth against extraterrestrial threats.

The series premiered on 15 September 2015. 24 individual plays and 8 specials have been released thus far, with 15 more announced. James Goss acts as producer, with Nicholas Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery serving as executive producers.

Background

The original television programme Torchwood, an adult-oriented spin-off of the long-running British science fiction drama Doctor Who, ran for four series broadcast between 2006 and 2011 before entering an indefinite hiatus due to the other commitments of creator and executive producer Russell T Davies.

In January 2015, John Barrowman, who plays series lead Captain Jack Harkness, stated in an interview that there were plans for Torchwood to return as several BBC audio plays that could potentially lead into a fifth television series, with both Davies and co-executive producer Julie Gardner in discussion of the project.^[1] Torchwood previously featured as several series tie-in radio plays that aired on BBC Radio 4 between 2008 and 2011.

In May 2015, Big Finish announced plans to produce audiobooks based on Torchwood as part of a licensing agreement between themselves and BBC Worldwide, allowing them to use characters and concepts from the revived series of Doctor Who (2005–present) and its spin-offs in future audio productions.^[2] The company was formerly only permitted to use elements from the programme's classic series (1963–89) and self-titled TV film (1996). The new Torchwood plays received the blessing of Davies,^[2] who had been working with Gardner and former Big Finish producer Gary Russell to bring the programme to the company since 2013.^[3]

Each play from the series' main range usually centres on one or more members of the organisation or their associates. The first twelve (originally announced as its first and second series) were released as monthly instalments between September 2015–August 2016, with an additional twelve released between March–August 2017 and March–August 2018. A further twelve more plays will be released monthly between March 2019–February 2020.^[4]

In addition to the main range, specials featuring ensemble casts are released infrequently. The first, The Torchwood Archive, was released in October 2016 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Torchwood's TV debut, with the boxsets Outbreak and Torchwood One: Before the Fall following in November 2016 and January 2017, respectively. A three-part series titled Aliens Among Us – co-created and overseen by Davies as a continuation of the TV programme – was released between August 2017–February 2018. The boxsets Believe and Torchwood One: Machines were respectively released in April and July 2018, while a second three-part series titled God Among Us is confirmed for release between October 2018–June 2019.^[5]

Premise

Torchwood follows the exploits of the agents who work for the fictional institute of the same name: a clandestine British organisation that defends Earth against supernatural and extraterrestrial threats, and salvages alien technology that comes to the planet. Like the television series, the audio dramas primarily focus on a team of alien hunters based at the organisation's Cardiff division, Torchwood Three, while occasionally fixating on their associates and agents from other branches of the institute.

The story arc central to the series' main "monthly" releases revolves around a group of aliens called The Committee, who appear to have been secretly manipulating humanity since the turn of the twentieth century. Despite their existence being perceived as a conspiracy, Torchwood have made efforts in foiling the Committee's schemes, but appears the group have larger plans in force.

Time period-wise, each play is set at a different point in Torchwood's history, ranging from its founding in the Victorian Era to the present day and future. Certain plays also take place during events from the TV series.

Cast

Production

The series is produced by James Goss, with Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs serving as executive producers. A number of writers contribute to the series regularly, whilst Scott Handcock and Blair Mowat respectively direct and compose the score on a regular basis, with other directors and composers contributing infrequently. Scripts were initially edited by Steve Tribe, with duties later shared with David Llewellyn. From 2019, scripts are edited by Llewellyn with Scott Handcock. All cover art is designed by Lee Binding.

Plays have been recorded in studios across the UK and the U.S., including Rancho Mirage Music, Bang Post Production, The Moat Studios, The Roundhouse Studios and Ladbroke Audio. Typically, one play is recorded in 1–2 days and released within six months, with post production taking place in the time in between. They debut through Big Finish's website for digital download and physical purchase, before being commercially available three months later, as usual with other Big Finish releases.

Releases

References