Codes and Conventions of Radio Dramas

What is a radio drama? Not a documentary (factual) but can be based facts that have been exaggerated to tell true stories. Not a radio reading such as ‘book at bed time’ as this is just a presenter reading a book word for word; where a radio drama has different people playing each character and uses sound effects to bring it to life like a play. The same as a play or TV show simply formatted in a way that makes it suitable for radio with more sound effects helping listeners to understand what is going on without necessarily having to use speech to elaborate on every detail. Like a book many people find radio dramas more rewarding than TV shows because they leave details to the imagination making the show a different experience for each and every listener. A radio drama can be any genre that a TV show can be, this includes: comedy, crime, thriller, horror, action/adventure, historical, biographical.

Conventions As in any other dramatic product techniques such as ‘cliffhangers’ and chronological development are used to draw listeners attention. Dramas have styles such as- traditional and post modern like any other drama.

Radio Dramas Typically Use Four Primary Elements Silence *Dramatic Pause* Actors/Speech The Four Elements SFX (Sound Effects) Music

Roles in producing a radio drama? Radio dramas are expensive to make. This is because of the many roles required to create them. Directors, actors, writers, runners, producers, project managers, technicians, and pre/post production staff are just some examples. SFX can also be expensive to create as many sounds have to be recorded from scratch in the studio.

What stations play radio dramas? There are only really three major UK stations that play radio dramas; this is because they are not suitable for regular music stations as they do not appeal to everyone. BBCR4- Service License reads "The remit of Radio 4 is to be a mixed speech service, offering in-depth news and current affairs and a wide range of other speech output including drama, readings, comedy, factual and magazine programmes. The service should appeal to listeners seeking intelligent programmes in many genres which inform, educate and entertain.” BBCR3- Service License reads “The remit of Radio 3 is to offer a mix of music and cultural programming in order to engage and entertain its audience. Around its core proposition of classical music, its speech-based programming should inform and educate the audience about music and culture. Jazz, world music, drama, the arts and ideas and religious programming should feature in its output. The service should appeal to listeners of any age seeking to expand their cultural horizons through engagement with the world of music and the arts.” BBC Asian Network- Service License reads “The remit of BBC Asian Network is to provide speech and music output appealing to British Asians, with a strong focus on news and current affairs. It should be primarily in English, but some programming should be provided in a range of South Asian languages. The primary target audience is British Asians under 35 but the station should also appeal to anyone with an interest in British Asian issues, music and culture.”

Shedtown vs. The Archers The Archers - The Archers is the UK's longest running soap opera and the most popular radio drama in the country. It is broadcast on BBCR4 which receives 10,000,000 listeners per week and is produced in our own BBC studio at The Mailbox, Birmingham. The Archers is a mainstream show for the station so it is broadcast Sunday-Friday at 2pm, 5pm and a weekend omnibus is broadcast like other TV soaps such as eastenders. Shedtown – Shedtown is also broadcast on BBCR4 but is more of a niche show. It’s broadcast late at night meaning the station can explore new talent and keep to their diversity agreements without putting off their primary audience.

‘A Short Gentleman’ with Hugh Bonneville

‘A Short Gentleman’ with Hugh Bonneville This is another radio four drama which I researched and found it was very well made. I included this because I find it interesting that huge actors such as Hugh Bonneville and Benedict Cumberbatch are happy to help out the BBC by starring in their dramas for much less money than they are used to simply for the pleasure of being on BBCR4. #faithinhumanityrestored