A Theatre of Cruelty (audio story)

was the first story in the audio anthology Buried Threats, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Lisa McMullin and featured Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
== Publisher's summary ==
Someone or something is manipulating the dreams of French playwright Antonin Artaud. As Artaud's nightmares are made manifest, the Doctor is compelled to intervene. Otherwise, Artaud’s new idea for an immersive theatre could become a ticket to literally die for.
== Plot ==
to be added
== Cast ==
* The Doctor - Christopher Eccleston
* Antonin Artaud - Alexander Vlahos
* Beatrice Cenci - Elisabeth Yorke-Bolognini
* The Astraphi / Actor - Angus Dunican
== Worldbuilding ==
=== The Doctor ===
* After hearing someone shouting out "nine", the Doctor misunderstandly says they are "sort of" correct.
* When visiting La Petrella de Salto in Rome in 1601, the Doctor claims to have a Papal dispensation to bypass the Cardinal's order to keep people out.
=== History ===
* Beatrice Cenci was sentenced to death on 11 September 1599. She was killed on the St Angelo Bridge.
* The Doctor was involved in these events, and will never forget her face.
=== Literature and art ===
* A portrait of Beatrice Cenci is regularly attributed to painter Guido Reni. The Doctor "borrows" it from the Louvre.
* Percy Shelley wrote a play about Cenci in 1819. Lizzie Hopley wrote a radio play called The Cenci Family which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as an Afternoon Play on 21st March 2006, and was nominated for a Sony Radio Academy Award.
* There is another rendition of her life by Spielberg.
* The Ninth Doctor believes William Shakespeare was the "greatest dramatist of all time".
=== Games ===
* The Doctor hopes that Antonin is not about to involve him in a game of zip, zap, boing during the actors' warm-up.
* Larry Olivier once "embroiled" the Doctor in a game of duck, duck, goose at the National Theatre, with Joan Plowright and Peter O'Toole.
== Notes ==
to be added
== Continuity ==
to be added
== External links ==
Category:Buried Threats audio stories
Category:Stories set in Paris
Category:Stories set in 1935
Category:Audio stories set in dreams
Category:Stories set in Rome
Category:Stories set in 1601
Category:One part audio stories