The 10th Doctor visits the Cathedral of Contemplation and can’t help going through a locked door…

It’s sometimes hard to remember that there weren’t that many meetings of Doctors in the TV series – six in all, stretching back to The Three Doctors nearly 50 years ago. The books and the comic strips have brought various Time Lords together more frequently – Titan’s current run has become a Doctors Team-Up magazine to all intents and purposes – and Big Finish have done it periodically, outside of special events. (There’s been one unheralded crossover in the main range in recent times.)

The Out of Time trio of stories is predicated on such crossovers, with Matt Fitton’s opener putting two of the most popular incarnations together – the Fourth and the Tenth. They’re not deliberately kept apart bar for story purposes: this is very much a tale that needs both their participation.

The idea of a place slightly outside time to where the Doctor can retreat is a neat one, and you suspect that there may have been other crossovers before. We immediately understand why each incarnation is there at this point in their life – and no, contrary to comments elsewhere, there is no link to the Time Lord Victorious event. Fitton understands what makes both Doctors unique and demonstrates this both through their debates (which have some of the expected rancour, but also some incisive observations about their strengths and weaknesses) and actions.

Nick Briggs gives us a quite emotional Supreme Dalek (or is that Dalek Supreme) and Kathryn Drysdale’s Jora is put through the wringer. Nicolas Asbury and Claire Rushbrook provide the multiple other voices, and it really does feel like a much larger cast than are actually present. Howard Carter’s sound design and music sell the vastness of the Cathedral – and the closeness of the air vents – while Briggs’ direction keeps the energy up throughout.

Verdict: An enjoyable Doctors team-up. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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