Dark Shadows (audio drama)

Dark Shadows is a series of audio dramas continuing the story of the 1966–1971 television soap opera of the same name. There have been two productions of Dark Shadows audio dramas. The first production, released in 2004 by MPI Home Video, was based on a 2003 stage play. Since 2006, Big Finish Productions have produced a number of audio dramas.

MPI Home Video

According to actor David Selby, who portrays Quentin Collins, "Return to Collinwood was my idea. I felt an audio thing would be a neat way to do new Dark Shadows scripts, at halfway decent prices. Jamison, my son, wrote it, tying up loose ends from 1971 and establishing continuity." It starred Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, John Karlen, Nancy Barrett, Lara Parker, Roger Davis, Marie Wallace, Christopher Pennock, Donna Wandrey, James Storm, and Terry Crawford.

Big Finish Productions

Full cast dramas

The first season featured David Selby (Quentin Collins), Lara Parker (Angelique Bouchard Collins), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), and John Karlen (Willie Loomis). The role of Barnabas Collins was recast with Andrew Collins. Robert Rodan, who played Adam in the original series, also appears in the first and fourth story, playing a new character. A second series was released in 2010. In addition to the cast returning from Series One, Kingdom of the Dead also featured Lysette Anthony, Alec Newman, Lizzie Hopley, Jerry Lacy, and David Warner. The third full cast drama Blood & Fire, released on June 27, 2016 to celebrate exactly 50 years since the start of the original TV series, featured Parker, Joanna Going (Laura Murdoch Stockbridge), Nancy Barrett (Isobel Collins), John Karlen (Alfred Loomis), Jerry Lacy (Malachi Sands), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Patience Collins), Christopher Pennock (Uriah Spencer Stockbridge), Lisa Richards (Euphemia Spencer Stockbridge), Mitchell Ryan (Caleb Collins), David Selby (Theodore Collins), James Storm (Abraham Harkaway), and Marie Wallace (Dorothea Summers).

Selected plots

• 3, The Christmas Presence: As Christmas draws near, Quentin Collins issues an arcane invitation into the unknown. Meanwhile, as children are reported missing across Collinsport, the festive season brings Collinwood new terrors, when a persuasive spirit seeks to divide and conquer...
• 4, The Rage Beneath: As a storm rages across Collinsport, ancient forces are stirring throughout the town. The waters of the ocean hold dark secrets for the Collins family - secrets that must be revealed once and for all. As a malevolent power takes hold, Quentin Collins finds himself facing a final confrontation...

Audiobooks

Selected summaries

• 5 The Skin Walkers: Quentin Collins meets the terrifying Skin Walkers in nineteenth century New York.
• 11 Blood Dance: Chicago, 1929. Quentin Collins encounters a mysterious nightclub owner. This play sees the return of original series actor Lisa Richards to the world of Dark Shadows after forty years.
• 12 The Night Whispers: As a storm rages through Collinsport, a mysterious spirit threatens Barnabas Collins. The Night Whispers features Jonathan Frid returning to the role of Barnabas.
• 13 London's Burning: London, 1906. Quentin investigates how music hall star Rosie Faye is connected to a series of cases of spontaneous human combustion.
• 14 The Doll House: Jenny Collins' fate is determined as she reveals her past to Beth.

Bloodlust miniseries

In 2015, a miniseries, entitled “Bloodlust”, consisted of thirteen episodes released in twice-weekly downloadable installments as to emulate the original soap opera format of the show.

Bloodline miniseries

The follow-up to “Bloodlust” was another thirteen-episode miniseries. It was released in 2019.

The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries

Short story collections

Awards and nominations