So it begins, Dark Eyes 2. The Traitor opens atmospherically, presenting an enslaved world well & into this oppressive world we welcome Liv Chenka. Having not heard Robophobia I don’t think it's required listening, Nicola Walker is so good here at bringing Liv to life & the dilemma she’s in. A complex conflicted person with a distinct personality immediately established.

Other than that it's fairly standard stuff, lots of Daleks shouting at each other giving us exposition & giving Briggs more work - he also writes & directs this one. That’s unsurprising given the proliferation of familiar tropes that he loves - Dalek occupation, robomen, rebels, etc etc. Unlike The Great War,  the first episode of Dark Eyes, this isn’t exciting or original. It feels like Dalek Empire with added Doctor Who. A good or bad thing? You decide.

There’s plenty of set up here but it's just not very interesting. Everything rushed in the last few minutes with a curt cliffhanger. It's only really the two central performances from Walker & McGann that kept me listening.

PS - Daleks really do have a mining kink!

Back in the 1950s the BBC broadcast much of its output live, notable examples being Nigel Kneale's The Quatermass Experiment and his adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984. Big Finish’s The Stuff of Legend: Live was almost the aural equivalent of that, giving audiences the chance to experience a live audio drama with additional foley fx & music. In short, it was masterful.

A fun romp that may not be a classic but seemed expertly tailored to the live experience, the Robert Valentine penned adventure was an atmospheric blend of the Old Dark House trope, folklore, spooky caves and zombified villagers. At times, particularly in the first part, it felt like Doctor Who meets Hammer Horror; The Doctor and Charley arriving in a desolate stormy seaside village and soon caught up in a mysterious tale involving disappearing locals and strange goings on in the nearby tin mines.

Across the board the performers were exceptional, full of energy, occasionally acting out small moments and it was great to see the supporting cast effortlessly shift between distinct characters. McGann, resplendent in his 8th Doctor costume, seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. A line of dialogue here and there got a fun reaction from the crowd creating a communal experience unlike the usual way most of us listen to Big Finish.

Added to the appeal was the chance to not only see live foley work enhancing the action but also Nick Briggs and his Dalek voice booming out across the auditorium. Some subtle lighting embellished the story as we changed locations and the event ended with a lovely bit of audience participation that led to a deserved standing ovation. Bravo Big Finish.

The only real negative, we didn’t hear a live recital of, “Big Finish. For the love of stories.” Oh well, maybe next time.