Analyas VII offers a world of contentment - an escape from the galaxy's hurly-burly... Or is it the breeding ground for a hideous nightmare instigated by the implacable Daleks in their struggle against the dreaded Mutant Phase?

Originally release in 1986 as part of the second season of audio plays from Audio Visuals (a non-profit-making fan organisation).


MUTANT PHASE: 1

My good friend Arthur Wallis had been asked by AV producer Bill Baggs to write another Dalek story (after the success of The Time Ravagers). However, since Arthur was heavily involved in writing another script, he passed the job of writing a sequel to The Time Ravagers on to me.

It soon became clear that I could not find a way to write a direct sequel. I decided to develop a Dalek story I'd written for fun a couple of years earlier. This story had been called The Mutant Phase and was set entirely on a barren, airless planet Skaro. Although that particular idea didn't survive until the final draft, many other vital plot components did. Mixed liberally with an inital idea I'd had of the Daleks covertly running another planet, and the theme of the Daleks once again indulging in genetic manipulation and The Mutant Phase was born. It was conceived without episode endings, but luckily the fell into place during post-production. Samuel Flint, May '92


PRODUCTION NOTES

Mutant Music

Just as Jim Mortimore's musical and technical involvement in Cloud of Fear had boosted AV's potential, in The Mutant Phase Jim gave the series another shot in the arm. Originally, Brian Marshall had been commissioned to compose for this story, since the AV team felt its epic nature needed Brian's dramatic touch. However, relations with him became stormy when he delivered a total of less than 5 minutes of music for episode 1 rather late. With a tight release schedule in mind, Bill decided that Jim Mortimore should replace Brian. Adding an Ensoniq Mirage sampler to his array of keyboards, Jim produced almost wall-to-wall music for the story. Using orchestral samples and aggressive rock drum-based tracks, he created, what was at the time, a revolutionary style of music for Doctor Who. One thing was certain, music for AV stories would never be the same again!


CREDITS

Cast
The Doctor Nicholas Briggs
Ria Liz Knight
Greg Holmes Gary Russell
Delores Nadir Meerza
Leum Paul Cleverly
Clerk Nigel Davies
Daleks/Additional Voices David Sax & Bill French
Ptolem Tim Beckerleg
Production
Script Samuel Flint
Music Jim Mortimore
Series Theme Brian Marshall
Editor/Director Nick Briggs
Cover Art Tim Keable
Design BRIX
Producer William Baggs

Audio Visuals is a non-profit-making fan organisation

"The Doctor is a known saboteur of Dalek operations and has been exterminated!"

Ria has been shipped out to a death camp. Greg has been taken to the planet Skaro. The Daleks have been thrown into panic by dread of the Mutant Phase.

Originally release in 1986 as part of the second season of audio plays from Audio Visuals (a non-profit-making fan organisation).


MUTANT PHASE: 2

This story features the first instance of companion recasting in the AV plays. This occured because the plays are produced on an amateur basis, relying on cast members donating their time. Throughout AV's history, parts have often been recast at the last minute when somebody suddenly has to attend to another committment.

Greg Holmes had been played by Richard Marson throughout the first season. Here he is replaced by Gary Russell because the team felt the difficulties of last minute rescheduling to accomodate Richard outweighed the need for continuity of cast.

Liz Knight was the first casting for Ria, but she later became unavailable. Ria was recast, Patricia Merrick taking on the role. However, since The Mutant Phase was the first second season story recorded, that is why Liz Knight appears in this story. Patricia Merrick continued as Ria until the third season story The Sword of Orion, when Heather Barker took on the part.


PRODUCTION NOTES

The lessons of The Time Ravagers were not learnt! The intention with this story was to record the Dalek voices during the main studio session. AV's ring modulator was dusted off and tuned up, and some homemade 'lip microphones' were constructed. They were useless, and the ring modulator became extremely tempramental. Consequently, the Dalek voices were added during the editing process, when constant re-tuning of the modulator's wandering freqencies could not keep a frustrated cast impatiently waiting!

Also added during editing was the opening 'space craft approaches Analyas IV' sequence. This last minute addition was scripted by Nick Briggs and voiced by him and David Sax. Its purpose was to underline the secrecy of the Daleks' operation and provice a more dramatic opening.

The master tapes of The Mutant Phase were among those stolen in 1987. This new version is a superior, clearer mix.


CREDITS

Cast
Daleks/Additional Voices David Sax & Bill French
Ptolem Tim Beckerleg
Greg Holmes Gary Russell
The Doctor Nicholas Briggs
Delores Nadir Meerza
Ria Liz Knight
Leum Paul Cleverly
Clerk Nigel Davies
Production
Script Samuel Flint
Music Jim Mortimore
Series Theme Brian Marshall
Editor/Director Nick Briggs
Cover Art Tim Keable
Design BRIX
Producer William Baggs

Audio Visuals is a non-profit-making fan organisation synchronize