This document provides guidance on key elements to consider when creating a radio drama, including using dialogue to develop characters, employing sound effects and music to set the scene and mood, utilizing techniques like narration and flashbacks to tell the story, and ensuring the content is appropriate for the target audience. It emphasizes that though the audience cannot see the characters, their voices, tones and speech are especially important to convey meaning and help listeners recognize them. Transitions between scenes can make use of fades, and cliffhangers can encourage listeners to tune in to subsequent episodes.
2. relevence, age, technical language.
Example - have your Narrator say ‘ Person X and Y are now in the Manor House’
Through Dialogue
Person X: ‘Your house is beautiful , thank you for inviting me.’
Person Y: ‘Thank you do come on in.’
3. Is the high or low?
How loud is the ?
Is the rough or smooth?
Is there any rise or fall in the ?
How about the ?
The different voices will help the listeners recognize a character and its
even more important due to the fact you can not see the character .
If someone said ‘ I hate you so much , you’re such a horrible person’ on a
soft sweet tone then the audience would be confused. The character
would say ‘ I hate you so much , you're such a horrible person’ in a loud
harsh tone to more impact and meaning .
4.
5. Music
Music can set the mood of a scene.
Upbeat music can set a happy , lively mood and
will set a positive vibe.
A great example is jaws when the song starts to
play when jaws is moving closer to the victim the
music builds up to create suspense and tension.
6. Ambience ( background noise )
Ambience is very important when it comes to a
radio drama. For example if you wanted to set the
location of a classroom you would have a
background noise of talking , typing , writing etc.
7. Sounds
Sounds in a radio drama can be used to set a
scene for example if you heard the sound of car
engines you would get the scene of outside near a
road. Sound also includes Sound Effects for
example if someone opened a door you would
hear a door squeak to paint a picture of a door.
8. Silence
Silence can be used to create a atmosphere and
build tension and it is also mysterious.
Example – If a character shouts ‘Whos there’ and
then there is silence.
9. Aural Signposting –
This is a technique used to establish location at
the opening of a scene. This can be done by effects
, spot and also sound effects and sometimes
supported by description.
It is likely that this effect is used before dialolouge
begins.
Example – Scene would open with sea waves to
establish a beach location before the script starts/
10. Cliff hanger
Cliff hangers are great to use in a radio drama to
make the listeners want more and tune into the
next show.
It makes the audience curious about what will
happen next.
11. Flashback
Flashbacks are a great way to tell a short story it
requires little time but includes a lot of detail.
These are normally used at the beginning of a
radio drama these can explain briefly what
happened in the last episode.
12. Use of fades
Fades can be used to show a distance for example
someone falling off a cliff the sound will slowly
fade to show they are getting further and further
away.
You can also use fades to go from on scene to
another in a easy transition.
13. Characterisation
To show characters through radio drama you can
do it through speech or sound effects.
15. Narration
Narration is normally done by someone who has
a clear voice so the audience can understand
them. The narrator normally speak in third
person as well.
16. Direct Speech
Direct speech can be used to get the characters
real opinions it will make the listeners feel more
attached to the character.
Normally used by the main character.
17. Credits
Credits are there to show who was involved to
create publicity for themselves and also if the
listeners were interested in finding out who was
involved.
18. Appropriateness to target audience
This is making sure the content provided is
suitable for the age group style of person.
Dramatic reconstruction
This is where an actor will recreate a scene
melodramatically.
Radio drama styles
E.G Psot-modern , radio drama as ‘theatre of the
mind’, creation of mood or location
(effects,acoustic)
19. Duration
How long a piece of footage lasts
Narrative Structure
It is one easiest and can be the best way to explain
action or plot that is happenign in your radio
drama.
20. appropriateness to target audience, dramatic
reconstruction, radio drama styles, eg. Post-
modern, radio drama as ‘theatre of the mind’,
creation of mood or location (effects, acoustic)
