The Springheel Saga

Back when I was a kid, my brother and I had this old tape-recorder which we would use to record ourselves. I can't really recall what we put on those tapes; mostly it was just nonsense, but I do recall that I had this idea to make a longer story of sorts and put it on tape. However, since I was a child, my interests soon turned to other things and the project (if you wish to call it that) was scrapped indefinitely. As for the recorder, I have no idea where it is now. With that said, the audio-drama as a medium has always interested me, ever since I first became aware that there was such a thing.

Although it may been pushed out of the limelight by television decades before I was even born, the audio-drama never really went away and thanks to the Internet, its possible to experience the works of this medium; not just of the old school, but completely new entrants as well.
One of my absolute favorites among the new generation of audio-dramas is The Springheel Saga from The Wireless Theatre Company. Taking place in England during the Victorian Era, The Springheel Saga tells the story of constable Jonah Smith and his tireless chase after Springheeled Jack, a figure from English folklore, who Smith is convinced exists and is at the source of a fire many years earlier, which left the young Jonah an orphan.

The Springheel Saga is comprised of three seasons and a total of nine episodes, each seeing Jonah Smith deal with a new case that inevitably involves his elusive and mysterious quarry in some fashion. While all the seasons are good, my personal favorite would have to be the second one, mainly for its introduction of the character Elijah Hopcraft. A self-described "principled amoralist" (though we never actually find out what his principles are), Hopcraft makes for an excellent archenemy to Smith, serving as the policeman's darker counterpart.

While the plot is captivating and the characters brought to life wonderfully by their respective actors, there's one thing in particular I must praise the creators of The Springheel Saga for. You see, when I listen to an audio-drama (at least one that doesn't have any narration), I sometimes find it hard to picture the locations the characters are supposed to be in at any given moment. Not here though, as sound-effects are used to great effect, making it easy to visualize where exactly the action takes place.
The Springheel Saga can be found at the Wireless Theatre Company's website along with other offerings (here) and I strongly suggest giving it a listen if you're in the mood for something thrilling and suspenseful. The episodes aren't free, but they don't cost much and are worth the prize.