Three train travellers swap stories of how they arrived…

In the best possible way, this story is fifty years or so out of time – appropriate given the central figure in it. This would make an absolutely brilliant anthology film of the sort that Amicus used to make: the set up is baffling, the three train travellers all appearing to have nothing whatsoever in common, and there’s a mystery figure who’s encouraging them to tell all… and yet how much of a mystery is he? If David Llewellyn isn’t reworking this as a standalone feature film then he should be.

Murray Melvin recreates Bilis Manger’s sepulchral charm as if he’s been constantly playing the part for the last decade, with Timothy Blore, Maxine Evans and Mali Ann Rhys terrific as the trio caught on a train that has apparently stopped in the middle of nowhere. Scott Handcock gives assured direction with Lee Adams’ sound is spot-on (and I always appreciate it when we get the effects simultaneous with the description – in this case, starting to phone the police), and Blair Mowat’s score suitably spooky, incorporating the referenced classical piece seamlessly. I did wonder if at the end we’d get a Beethoven-esque reworking of the theme!

Verdict: You don’t need any prior knowledge to appreciate this excellent piece of spooky audio drama. 10/10

Paul Simpson