September 29, 2015

THE PRISONER AUDIO DRAMA

Celebrating the 48th anniversary of The Prisoner today, Big Finish has released their trailer for an upcoming series of audio dramas based on the original cult TV series. As with any new iteration of a old favorite, the brief clip has been the topic of much discussion over the last few hours as fans try to enjoy familiar elements and reconcile the differences. I suppose it's rather like hearing a song all your life in a particular key and then suddenly hearing it "off pitch" with a different singer. Nicholas Briggs at Big Finish posted a great press release (below), which, if nothing else, captures his excitement and enthusiasm for the project. Spy Vibe is a great fan of Big Finish, a company that has resurrected lost episodes of The Avengers and Doctor Who, and who are delivering new experiences with many favorite characters from the 1960s. Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner was a mysterious pop art masterpiece that drew from espionage thriller and science fiction conventions. Much of the success rested on McGoohan, who's intensity cracked like a whip across TV screens to champion the message of individuality, privacy, and person freedom. I enjoy hearing this new clip from Big Finish. Although the actor doesn't seem to capture the sharp urgency of the original (will he be so committed?), it is great fun to hear the world of The Prisoner again in a new format. I really look forward to hearing the stories! Below: The Prisoner trailer followed by today's press release from Big Finish. Related posts: Jason at PortmeirionThe Prisoner and Captain Scarlet, The Prisoner Fallout and 1960s Surrealism, UK Satire/SurrealismEmma Peel Audio Dramas, DC Fontana Video, McGoohan Tribute, Enjoy!



"This is the first glimpse of what we've been up to with The Prisoner. As I write this, all four episodes have been recorded. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am and how grateful I am to ITV for trusting us with this magnificent series. I think they may have spotted the enthusiasm of a young Nicholas Briggs when I attended the first meeting. The Prisoner was a series that captivated the entire nation and I was right in the middle of it. Just this week readers of the Radio Times have voted it the fifth greatest ITV series of all time. Today, we’re being as cryptic as the original series. We’re not announcing the casting, but we’re giving you the opportunity to hear some of them and to see them in this great bit of artwork by Tom Webster. We're re-imagining the original 1967 TV series. It isn't a continuation. We've ‘recreated’ it from the very beginning (and, hopefully, one day, until the end). It’s different, but it’s very much in the spirit of the original. So, it’s something old and something new. Our aim is to make you fall in love with this tremendous series all over again. Be seeing you, Nicholas Briggs.

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1 comment:

  1. I'm thoroughly looking forward to his, I agree it's great fun to hear the series in a new form! Nicholas Briggs has been kind enough to do some interviews: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/interviewsbriggs.htm

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