LESSON 1
History of Radio Drama - 92 years old
92 years of acting on the radio
On 16 February 1923 the BBC broadcast its first radio drama - the Quarrel Scene from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. To mark the anniversary, BBC Radio Drama have recorded a new version of the scene - which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Thousands of actors have embraced the medium of radio since the early days. Take a look back at what has changed through the decades - with the BBC's head of audio drama Alison Hindell.
Click on the picture below to hear the 6 minute history of Radio Drama
On 16 February 1923 the BBC broadcast its first radio drama - the Quarrel Scene from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. To mark the anniversary, BBC Radio Drama have recorded a new version of the scene - which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Thousands of actors have embraced the medium of radio since the early days. Take a look back at what has changed through the decades - with the BBC's head of audio drama Alison Hindell.
Click on the picture below to hear the 6 minute history of Radio Drama
TASK FOR LESSON 1 - sound effects
With a partner listen to the first 5 minutes of 3 Radio dramas below and make notes on the sounds using the listening task download below
task_1_radio_lo1.doc | |
File Size: | 37 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Radio Drama Awards
The winners of the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015 have been announced at a special event hosted by actor Lenny Henry and BBC Director General Tony Hall, in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House.
The winners of the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015 have been announced at a special event hosted by actor Lenny Henry and BBC Director General Tony Hall, in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House.
Al Smith's play looks at the fate of three physicists who meet at Oxford and how Time plays a central part in their work and their relationships with devastating consequences.
Dark Passenger
(Horror) Two teenage friends start scaring each other on the drive to a dismal “haunted” house on the coast of Maine. But when their innocent fun starts to become all too real, they soon realize what true terror is. A nod to Stephen King in a tale inspired by a true story too haunting to forget. This inaugural field recorded FinalRune production still haunts today. It was recorded in the foggy, dim stretches of rural Downeast Maine where the story is set – the birthplace of creator Fred Greenhalgh. Featuring immersive sound design, and an original score, this full cast audio horror story is sure to chill to the bone. |
The Troll of Stoney Brook
An awkward teenager, Jamie, is driving home one night from a party when he hits something – something big. His pushy co-worker, Rick, talks him into going back to the scene of the accident… and what they find will change them both forever. |
Homework
Listen to episode one of Serial 'The Alibi' and analyse the methods used by the writers to communicate with the audience: serialpodcast.org/season-one
Lesson 2:
What is Dramatic Content?
dramatic_content.doc | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task for lesson 2
Radio dramas, the same as TV films, come in different forms of genres. It is the audiences preferences which they prefer. Below are examples of different types of NEW SCHOOL radio dramas. They move away from the straight laced BBC style and move more towards the controversial style of 'channel 4'. A production company called Finalrune have produced some exciting and controversial dramas for the internet rather than mainstream radio. These examples are more 'AUDIO FICTION' rather than Radio drama.
Look at the evaluation of Torchwood and complete the same for 2 of the radio drama listed below
Setting
Characterisation
Speech and words
Music
Silence
Setting
Characterisation
Speech and words
Music
Silence
Examples of different genres of Radio Drama / AUDIO FICTION
Sci Fi: The cleansed
Two teenage friends start scaring each other on the drive to a dismal “haunted” house in foggy Downeast Maine. But when their innocent fun starts to become all too real, they soon realize what true terror is
Adventure / mistrey: Open Season |
HORROR: A blind MANS CONFERSSION |
Modern 'new wave' Radio
Morris wrote and produced the new eight-minute sketch – which will premiere on Mary Anne Hobbs’ 6 Music show on Sunday – with The IT Crowd alumni Richard Ayoade and Noel Fielding, who play the parts of an old man and his carer.
The new sketch is redolent of Blue Jam, which was a hermetic world of guts and grime where people “vault through closed windows” and parents adopt laissez-faire attitudes to the abduction of their own progeny. Woozy Warp Records instrumentals danced around the background. “It’s In the Night Garden – in hell,” according to regular collaborator David Quantick, and it later appeared on Channel 4 in TV form as Jam.
The new sketch is redolent of Blue Jam, which was a hermetic world of guts and grime where people “vault through closed windows” and parents adopt laissez-faire attitudes to the abduction of their own progeny. Woozy Warp Records instrumentals danced around the background. “It’s In the Night Garden – in hell,” according to regular collaborator David Quantick, and it later appeared on Channel 4 in TV form as Jam.
LESSON 3 - TASK 3 Brief
Task 3
For your LO1 assignment you will need to compare and critique 2 different radio dramas – one traditional and one postmodern.
Examples can be found below or you can find your own
Your critique should be presented as either a word document, PowerPoint or audio recording.
You will need to discuss ALL of the following
Codes: Words, voices, speech, music, ambience, sounds and silence
Conventions: Aural signposting, cliff-hanger endings, flashback, use of fades, characterisation, chronological development, narration, direct speech, titles, credits
Styles: Appropriateness to TA, dramatic reconstruction, drama styles, creation of mood
Structures: Duration, narrative structure, development of plot
For your LO1 assignment you will need to compare and critique 2 different radio dramas – one traditional and one postmodern.
Examples can be found below or you can find your own
Your critique should be presented as either a word document, PowerPoint or audio recording.
You will need to discuss ALL of the following
Codes: Words, voices, speech, music, ambience, sounds and silence
Conventions: Aural signposting, cliff-hanger endings, flashback, use of fades, characterisation, chronological development, narration, direct speech, titles, credits
Styles: Appropriateness to TA, dramatic reconstruction, drama styles, creation of mood
Structures: Duration, narrative structure, development of plot
Essay help
Opening paragraph:
You can discuss how the producer has used SPEECH in order to create a DRAMATIC RECONSTRUCTION for the TARGET AUDIENCE. Discuss how the AURAL SIGNPOSTING created DRAMA through the use of SOUND and SILENCE to CREATE THE MOOD
Opening paragraph:
- Discuss how you are CRITICALLY evaluating two radio dramas from two different
- Detail what postmodern and traditional drama are
- Give a brief outline of BOTH radio dramas
- Discuss each drama in detail
- DO NOT bullet point the above but include them in your essay
You can discuss how the producer has used SPEECH in order to create a DRAMATIC RECONSTRUCTION for the TARGET AUDIENCE. Discuss how the AURAL SIGNPOSTING created DRAMA through the use of SOUND and SILENCE to CREATE THE MOOD
- Add examples to your essay
- Be CRITICAL - did it work - didn't it work
- Move on to the next
- Round up your essay with a comparison
Example essay
This is an example of a Distinction standard essay response to the LO1 task. This is for your guidance only.
lo1 Assessment feedback
lo1_feedback_form.docx | |
File Size: | 104 kb |
File Type: | docx |