In Review: Big Finish: Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend (Studio Version)

Synopsis: In The Stuff of Legend, Something is afoot in the lonely Cornish village of Merrymaid Bay. Rumors of dead men working in the tin mines have sent a chill through the community. 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? Just what awesome power do the Doctor’s greatest enemies – the Daleks – threaten to unleash upon the universe?

Review: Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend (Studio Version) was a celebratory treat. The wonderful people at Big Finish marked their 25th anniversary in style.

Story

Writer Robert Valentine crafted a love letter to Doctor Who. The story had to work as an audio and as a live stage show.

Consequently, we got an old-school plot suitable for a family audience. Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend (Studio Version) was Peter Cushing’s Doctor Who with Hinchcliffe style nods to Hammer Horror.

We got multiple scenery eating villains. Bringing the Daleks and the Master together again made me nostalgic for the Pertwee era as well.

My favorite part, though, was the extremely well realized exploration of Cornish folklore. Valentine acknowledged the original stories of the Bucca. However, he put an unmistakably Whovian twist on them.

Acting

Based on the Studio Version, the entire cast must have had an absolute blast with the live stage show. I’m a life long fan of old-time radio, so I could picture them performing for an audience throughout.

Paul McGann and India Fisher brought unabashed joy to their roles. For his part, Alex Macqueen played the Master as if he’d never been away.

For their parts, Barnaby Edwards and Jason Forbes developed a marvelously engaging double act. Additionally, Nisha Nayar and Annette Badland played Emily Barnfather with gusto.

That said, Nicholas Briggs was the highlight. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see him play off the live audience. 

Overall

Happy Anniversary, Big Finish! Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend (Studio Version) was a great present to fans. Here’s to the next 25 years.

You can purchase Doctor Who: The Stuff of Legend (Studio Version) here. 

Check Out more of our Big Finish Audio Reviews here.