"The Marian Conspiracy"
by Jacqueline Rayner

With The Marian Conspiracy, a Sixth Doctor adventure by Jacqueline Rayner, Big Finish Productions start to try a lot of new things. Most notably, this is the first time that the story's companion is not one from the original television series; instead, we're introduced to an original creation. This has been done before in the novels and comic strips, but it's new ground for the audios, and it's done in the form of Dr Evelyn Smythe (Maggie Stables), a middle-aged history lecturer.

More subtly, these four episodes mark the start of a reinvention of this particular incarnation of the lead character. The boisterousness and arrogance of the Sixth Doctor didn't win him many fans on screen, and his short reign meant that we never saw him mellow as actor Colin Baker had intended he would. Thanks to Big Finish, we're given the chance to see a calmer and more approachable version of the character, and the change is truly remarkable.

So, the first adventure for this new companion and as-new Doctor is a trip to Tudor England. Encountering Evelyn at her university, the Doctor discovers that she is the nexus point he has been tracking, and her history seems to be in flux. To save her life, they must travel back to the sixteenth century, where Evelyn becomes involved with a plot to remove Mary from the throne, and the Doctor visits the court of the queen herself.

The Marian Conspiracy is a brilliantly fun historical romp, but it's also a very talky play, low on the action front but strong on characterisation and plot. The script is carried by the performances of the cast, who cope well with some rather long scenes, and the twists and turns of the story are well-concealed, making for some satisfying unpredictability. There are some fantastic bits of humour, too; the Doctor's uncomfortable reaction to a mention of the Fire of London, for example, and the interaction between he and his young female admirer Sarah, which leads to some fun - and, at one point, unexpectedly emotional - moments.

Unquestionably, stars Maggie Stables and Colin Baker steal the show, with both main characters shining in all four episodes. But, to be honest, it would be hard for the character of Evelyn to be anything other than impressive. Even if the execution (no pun intended) of the character hadn't been successful, there would still have been a lot to praise, as Big Finish really are venturing into new ground - more than twice the age of most companions, she's already lived her life, and she almost looks down on the Doctor rather than playing assistant. Right from the beginning, the dynamic that's quickly established between the pair is entirely original and refreshing. And the execution is successful: Maggie Stables is perfect in the role, boosting Evelyn from a bold experiment to one of the most charming and different companions we've ever encountered.

Baker is similarly splendid, finally getting the chance to show his audience the Sixth Doctor as he'd always wanted him to be seen. He's recognisably the same character who may or may not have pushed a guard into an acid bath, and strangled Peri in a fit of post-regenerative madness, but he's got a lot more sensitivity and composure to him than has been seen in the past. Based on his performance in The Marian Conspiracy alone, there's the potential for this incarnation to become one of the best Doctors of all.

However, the brilliance of both main characters/actors also leads to one of the more disappointing elements of the story. After some superb scenes together which make up the majority of the first episode, the Doctor and Evelyn are separated for quite a while; this isn't anything new for Doctor Who by any means, but when the audience is getting to know both characters and has seen such enjoyable interaction between the two, it's a shame that they spend so much time apart. Granted, they both work well independently; but when they reunite, and have the opportunity to spark off one another again, the result is enchanting, so I'd like to see more of them working as a team in future.

Barnaby Edwards as the fruity-voiced Frenchman Francois de Noailles is a standout of the guest cast, with Jo Castleton putting in a similarly strong performance as Sarah. Anah Ruddin, as Queen Mary, gives an enjoyable elegance and poise to her role, which makes up for a couple of the other characters seeming unrealistic in some scenes.

All in all, then, The Marian Conspiracy is a triumph. An exciting new direction for the Sixth Doctor, a superb new companion in Evelyn Smythe, and a great story from Jacqueline Rayner. I can't recommend this one enough.