A drawing of Kiri from The Tower audio drama, drawn entirely in purple shades a hooded woman looks up with a hopeful smile on her face

Into the Unknown: An Audio Drama Journey Through the Self and The Tower

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At the center of the city lies The Tower, an abandoned relic of a forgotten age, built by a proud king who wanted to rule the sky as well as the land. It stretches up into the sky, through the smog. The Tower is also the title of this audio drama shrouded in mystery by Tin Can Audio, written and produced by Amber Devereux, and starring Katrina Allen, David Pellow and Mark Gallie. This story strikes a delicate balance between self-growth and weird fiction, offering listeners an almost tranquil descent into dark fantasy – a journey that only becomes more complex as we climb the tower alongside the main character.

Throughout The Tower, the listener follows Kiri, who struggles with the weight of her past decisions. In an attempt to reclaim control over her life, she chooses to climb The Tower. This massive, abandoned, and possibly endless structure stands as a relic of a forgotten time shrouded in mysteries. As the listeners venture deeper into The Tower to uncover its secrets, they will also reveal fragments of Kiri’s past and the events that led her to this journey.

In Part One, Episode One, Kiri begins her climb, leaving behind her old life in what feels like an impulse decision. No one truly knows what lies within The Tower; only tales of the past hint at what once was. As Kiri steps into the unknown, so do we as listeners – and this shared sense of discovery is where the show’s brilliance lies.

We climb alongside Kiri, her journey mirroring our own in unexpected ways. As she climbs, so do we, step by step, sharing her wins and her setbacks. When she stumbles, we share her frustration and when she pushes forward, it’s as though we’re rising with her. But it seems that The Tower isn’t just a mysterious place – it starts to feel like an echo of Kiri’s inner self, its secrets slowly uncovering parts of her story. But the magic of this audio drama lies in how it begins to reflect back on us. The Tower challenges Kiri, but it also makes us think about our own struggles and how we deal with them. Are we, in our own way, climbing a never-ending tower within ourselves? Maybe we’re also lost in a fog, waiting for the moment we can rise above whatever holds us back. As Kiri climbs, we’re not just following her – we’re on a journey of our own, step by step, setback by setback, toward something better.

Cover art for The Tower part 2 with a long haird person staring away into oscillating circles with roman numerals matching the hours of a clockface

This show is a great example of what makes audio dramas such a unique storytelling medium. Amber, the creator of The Tower, also composed the melodies that guide us through our climb of The Tower. The music shapes the mood at every step, pulling us deeper into the story and helping us connect with what Kiri is feeling. Together with the stellar performances from the cast, the music sparks our imagination, allowing us to fill in the blanks and make us feel like we are part of the story.

You and I might listen to the same show, but we’ll imagine things a little differently – maybe the characters don’t look quite the same, or the rooms in The Tower might appear unique to each of us. Yet, at the same time, we’re all experiencing this climb together, “seeing” the world through Kiri’s ears. That’s what makes audio dramas so special – they’re both deeply personal and a shared experience.

The Tower is the perfect entry point for anyone interested in the enthralling world of horror and mystery audio dramas. The Tower explores themes of change, growth, resilience, and a healthy dose of fantasy and weird horror.

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Kevin Capon Goldszmidt is a passionate gamer, enjoying games on a variety of devices, from mobile to PC, Steam Deck, and even Mac. When he’s not working, you can find him listening to audio dramas. The two often overlap. You can find him at @KevinGoldszmidt

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