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You will have 30 minutes to prepare a short section of your Podcast or radio play to be delivered vocally to an audience.

You should rehearse this short section a few times to become familiar with the material and confident in the delivery.

You should focus on;

·         Clarity – Is it clear and understandable

·         Pace – Is it being delivered so people remain engaged

·         Tone – Does the manner in which I am talking suit the topic

·         Communication – Is it clear what you are saying to your audience

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·         More excitement in the opening "Tagline"

·         The AITA story - Long-winded -

·         Hands up - in a verbal discussion - how are the audience meant to see this??

·         Some over-lapping of speech

·         Some voices need to increase in volume

·         Will 30 minutes of the same be engaging?

·         What else could be included within the 30 minute timeframe - Game/Activity/Quiz?

·         Did audience remained engaged in the whole discussion, or did people start to turn off?

·         Over-saturation of a similar style – ways in which to make it someway different?

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Recording Slots

Group 1 - KG

Group 2 - DEH

Group 3 - ABCDE's

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Add your feedback to the following Podcast Recordings

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Add your feedback to the following Podcast Recordings

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1. Something you enjoyed about the podcast.

2. Something that you would do differently

3. Something that needs to be improved upon.

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Sit with your group and recap your ideas for a Podcast/Radio play

Begin drafting ideas on conversation points, or rehearsing the scripted for a Radio Play

Ensure you have a rough script being generated that can be digitally shared with everyone in your group.

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Present a short excerpt of your Podcast/Radio play to the rest of the group

Provide feedback on the Podcast/Radio Play you have just listened to

Consider how to further develop the Podcast/Radio play

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Over the course of the next term, you will be tasked with writing and developing a 30 minute recording of either;

A) A Radio Play

B) A Podcast

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What is a podcast?
A podcast is a digital audio file, which can be downloaded from the internet and listened to on various digital devices.
They are usually a series of episodes which are personal in tone which can be highly produced, like slick expensive box sets, or as cheaper, conversational programmes.

This guide is an introduction to anyone who wants to know what's involved in making a podcast and developing an audience for it. It's particularly of relevance for anyone who is producing podcasts for the BBC.

How do I make a podcast?
Hear from industry experts as they share insights into what you should consider when making a podcast. Transcript (PDF 55 Kb)
What are the editorial issues?
Editorial standards like accuracy, impartiality, harm and offence and privacy need to be applied with the same rigour to podcasts as any other content made by or for the BBC.
The challenge of creating a podcast is to find the right balance between pushing the boundaries of creativity whilst maintaining editorial integrity.
Podcasts allow you to be:
* Honest and open-hearted: allow the listener to be part of your journey by giving them behind-the-scenes access

* Generous: create a secure environment for great conversations with talent who trust each other

* Less scripted: you can always push the boundaries knowing if you went too far it can be edited later on
BBC editorial standards: A simple guide
How do I develop an audience?

What makes a podcast a hit?

Informality

Be spontaneous, conversational and less scripted

Personal

Be intimate and engage the listener on a one-to-one basis

Community of creators

Create a sense of community by cross promoting other podcasts

Effortless stimulation

Good storytelling. Pique curiosity by having the freedom to say what you want

Format

If you're considering producing a podcast there are a few tips to keep in mind:

Podcasts are listened to from the beginning, as opposed to someone dipping in part way as they might for a radio programme. This allows you to tell more complex stories

With people listening to podcasts on headphones the edits you make to the audio can be more complex

You can build huge audience loyalty. If people are engaged they tend to stick with a podcast and stay subscribed to it

Text

The title and description should be enticing to pull in new listeners. The first sentence matters the most. To achieve this you need to:

Identify the keywords that will enable people to find your content

Add the keywords or phrases to the title and description to help search engines pick them up Example of titles / descriptions:

BBC World Service Tech Tent podcast "Your weekly status update on the technology business with Rory Cellan-Jones" From the Serial and This American Life: S-Town podcast "S-Town is a new podcast from Serial and This American Life, hosted by Brian Reed, about a man named John who despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it."

Image

Here are a few tips to consider when selecting an image for your podcast:

Make sure you have a grabby visual

Differentiate and individualise the podcast image rather than by network branding

Think about how the image is integrated as part of your greater digital brand

Make sure the image stands out as most third-party websites have white backgrounds

Think about the size, prominence and colour of BBC branding

Think about rights as the image will be displayed on third-party websites

Consider the cost involved when commissioning graphics

Audio

To ensure your podcast sounds like a podcast you must:

Speak directly to listeners

Be vulnerable, informal and humble

Add a sting to your podcast for attribution

Don't assume people know your presenter or programme, add introductions to welcome new listeners

Thank people. Ask for reviews and recommendations in your outro

Trail your podcasts on other podcasts and trail back. Repetition is OK as podcast listeners are used to it

Use music to signpost how the listener should be feeling

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A podcast is a digital audio file, which can be downloaded from the internet and listened to on various digital devices. They are usually a series of episodes which are personal in tone which can be highly produced, like slick expensive box sets, or as cheaper, conversational programmes.

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There will be 4 weeks of developing and creating your material, before then spending 2 weeks recording.

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1. Minimalist/Freestyle

2. With a co-host

3. Fully scripted

4. Solo-host

5. Interview style

6. Q + A

7. Tutorial / how-to

8. Roundtable

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If you enjoy ad-libbing, a basic list of questions might be all you need.

These scripts don't take much time to make and can provide just enough structure to get an episode off the ground.

A loose episode structure also makes for easier editing since the "mistakes" naturally fit with the style of your show.

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We strongly recommend using a script if you record with multiple podcast hosts.

A script ensures you and your guest don't talk over each other, get confused about what's coming next, forget key points, or confuse listeners.

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A word-for-word draft is an excellent option for audio dramas and some solo shows, but it takes practice to learn the art of reading a script naturally.

Try to write in pauses, laughs, and off-script comments to avoid sounding stilted. This delivery style doesn't allow for many mistakes and can add time to your editing in post-production.

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Many solo podcasters (especially beginners) find it saves time and energy to make a detailed outline.

Under each main point, include relevant key points, supporting data, and anecdotes. If you choose this script style, stay conversational, and try not to read your notes verbatim.

This outline gives you enough structure to make recording easier but is casual enough to allow for verbal slip-ups.

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A good podcast interview requires preparation. This script can help you keep a free-flowing, conversational tone with your guest.

Email your guest your outline a week or so before the interview so they have plenty of time to prepare. Tell them what questions you plan to ask, and craft your script around those questions.

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Q&A-styled podcasts answer listener questions and are generally fairly straightforward in their format. You can use this guide as a general outline and customize it where you see fit.

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Podcast episodes that feature tutorials involve a lot of steps with important details you don't want to forget.

Use this template as a guide whenever you teach your listeners a skill or walk them through a multi-step process.

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Roundtable podcasts feature three or more cohosts and can easily get off the rails if you don't have an outline.

This guide can help keep your episode in line through banter and various podcast segments!

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A dramatic performance that is broadcast on the radio/streamed. 

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A dramatic performance that is broadcast on the radio/streamed. 

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How do radio plays work?

Radio plays are purely auditory, with no visual component

Performers use their voices, sound effects, and music to convey the story

The listener uses their imagination to picture the characters and setting

Examples of radio plays

War of the Worlds by Orson Welles is a famous American radio drama

A Rural Line on Education was the first play written specifically for radio broadcast in English

Tips for writing radio plays

Don't over-populate the play with too many characters

Each character should have a reason for being in the play

Write in the accent or voice you want for each character

Be careful not to create peer groups of characters with the same gender, age, class, or accent

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Free Audio Drama And Audio Comedy - Wireless Theatre

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Award winning and free audio drama, free audio comedy, free full-cast audio plays, alternative history, sci-fi radio plays, horror audio from Wireless Theatre.

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Scripts from the BBC Radio Drama archive

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What are some suggested tips for writing/developing a podcast?

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What are some suggested tips for writing/developing a podcast?

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Ultimate Live Streaming Hub - Restream Blog

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Podcasts are the most popular they've ever been, with new shows hitting Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and other platforms every week. If you've ever aspired to make your own podcast, now is the time. But coming up with an idea for a podcast can seem difficult - how do you know if people will find your show interesting? What about all the other podcasts that already exist in your niche?

Finding a good podcast idea is easier than you think. This guide covers 30 podcast ideas to help inspire you, plus how to tell the difference between a good podcast idea and a bad one.

How to find a good podcast idea

To start brainstorming podcast ideas, think about what interests you and how you want to express your voice. Also, think about your audience and the kind of conversation you'd like to have with a listener.

To find your voice, consider the following:

Are there any questions you want to answer? Maybe you want to know why some live streamers make so much money, or how anyone manages to run a successful side hustle with a full-time job. Let your curiosity roam and try to come up with "why" and "how" questions that interest you.

Topics or issues you care about deeply. Are you moved by climate change or gender equality? Is there a topic that makes you want to stand up and say something? List subjects you care passionately about - one of them might make a good podcast topic.

The reason for starting a podcast. Why do you want to make a podcast? Maybe you're someone who prefers to share their message by speaking into a microphone rather than writing a blog post. Perhaps you want to attract customers to your business. Uncovering your motivation for starting a podcast will help guide you later on.

Once you've explored your voice and who you want to be as a podcaster, think about your audience. Who would listen to your podcast, and what does their typical day look like? Do they have similar questions as you? Do they care about the same issues as you? Imagine having a conversation with one of your listeners. What would you really enjoy talking about?

After you've given these factors some thought, you'll likely generate some podcast ideas. To hone in on your audience, try to narrow your topic. Let's say you want to make a podcast about live streaming. That's a great start, but live streaming is broad. Which subtopics will your podcast cover?

One way to narrow down your podcast topic is by targeting a section of your audience. Maybe your podcast will be about live streaming for gamers. You lose some of the audience interested in other types of live streaming (e.g., for businesses), but you'll end up creating much more valuable content for your target audience (gamers).

Which podcast types are the most popular?

As you're coming up with good topics for podcasts, consider which format will work the best for your show. Here are the most popular:

Monologues - Make a one-person show where you offer commentary on an issue, make a tutorial, or report on a topic.

Stories - Use soundscapes to tell a story and immerse listeners.

Conversation or freestyle - Grab a co-host, pick a subject, and let a conversation happen naturally.

Interviews - Bring someone else onto the show and ask them questions about their experience, expertise or whatever value they offer your listeners.

Podcast topic ideas

Q&A

Paranormal

True crime

Personal finance

Guided meditations

Kids' programs

Time-specific

Event planning

Alternative lifestyle

Advice or quote of the day

Pets

Top 10 lists

Coaching

A topic you're unfamiliar with

Documentary

How-to and DIY

Entertainment reviews

Comedy sketches or stand-up

Travel

Local news and culture

Audio dramas

Product reviews

Tech

Podcasting

Business and entrepreneurship

Sports

Retirement and older adults

ASMR

Under 10 minutes

Improvisation

1. Q&A

Ask listeners to write and send you questions before the show, then answer them in a podcast. You can even broadcast your Q&A live every once in a while to promote your show. To keep up this format long-term, try asking one deep question and answering it for every episode.

2. Paranormal

People love exploring the weird, spooky or unexplained. Make a paranormal podcast to dive into these mysteries and pick a new one for each episode.

3. True crime

True crime podcasts unpack a crime or incident that actually happened, analyzing it in detail. People love hearing exciting crime stories, especially if they're true.

4. Personal finance

Personal finance is a popular podcast topic because everybody struggles with managing money at some point. Make your show more specific by covering personal finance for single parents, U.S. expats living abroad, or some other targeted audience.

5. Guided meditations

Podcasts are the perfect medium for guided meditations. Help your listeners relax and cover meditations for different topics or emotions, such as anger, stress, sadness, gratitude, etc.

6. Kid-friendly

Kids listen to podcasts too! You can make it educational, so they can supplement their schoolwork, or entertaining to help them relax. If you make a kids' podcast, be sure to target a specific age group. Nine-year-olds aren't going to enjoy the same content as 14-year-olds, for example.

7. Time-specific

Time-specific podcasts come out at certain times of the day or week, like a daily morning news brief or a weekly Monday motivation podcast. Tying your theme to a time is a great way to stay on schedule, but you'll probably have to think of a subject to cover in your podcast as well.

8. Event planning

Event planning is a big industry, so you're bound to get some listeners if you cover it in your podcast. You could talk about how to plan certain events or provide updates on how live events are evolving following the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Alternative living

An alternate lifestyle can mean a lot of things. Maybe your podcast is about living a minimalist life, being a digital nomad, or something else that varies from the norm. You can talk about your own life or interview others about their alternative lifestyles.

10. Advice of the day

Give listeners a valuable nugget of inspiration, motivation or advice each day with a short podcast. You can talk about whether you've applied this advice in your life and how it went for you. Asking listeners to write in with their own advice is also a good way to get more engagement out of your podcast.

11. Pets

Who doesn't love pets? Make a podcast with tips and advice for caring for an animal. You can cover common pets like cats and dogs or discuss more exotic pets like lizards, rats, birds or even tarantulas!

12. Top 10 lists

It's hard for anyone to resist a good top 10 list - that's why this format is so popular across all media. You could make your podcast solely top 10 lists, covering completely different topics each week, or stick to a general subject area.

13. Coaching

Coaching podcasts are like advice-of-the-day shows, but with more substance. Pick a niche, like digital marketing or personal development, and offer your advice and best tips. To make a successful coaching podcast, ask listeners to send you their questions or problems so you can discuss them on the show as well.

14. A topic you know nothing about

You don't have to be an expert on something to make a podcast about it! Choose a subject you don't know much about but would like to learn more and discover it along with your listeners.

15. Documentary

Documentary-style podcasts include a lot of interviews, and you may even record them on location. They're very similar to regular documentaries, but with audio only.

16. How-to podcast

Do you have a skill or talent you can share with others? Create a tutorial podcast, where you teach listeners how to use a tool, complete a process, or work on a skill.

17. Book/movie/album reviews

Review podcasts are popular and easy to make. You can choose books, movies or albums of a certain genre and review a new one each week. Podcasts also make an excellent format for a book club, where you and a guest or two can discuss the book together.

18. Stand-up comedy

Do you enjoy making people laugh? Develop some comedy routines and perform them on your podcast like a stand-up comic. You could also do a series of comedy sketches.

19. Travel podcast

Take listeners on a journey to somewhere new with each episode, either by talking about your own travel experiences or interviewing travelers. Providing travel tips and tricks also makes a good podcast. You can focus on a particular country or region of the world or cover the entire globe.

20. Local podcast

Do you live in a great city or region that you want more people to know about? Make a podcast about all the events, news and quirky characteristics of your city. Local listeners can learn about what's happening in their area, and non-local listeners might enjoy learning about somewhere new.

21. Dramas

Scripted audio dramas are a popular genre for podcasts and can be just as exciting as a TV series. People love listening to good stories, and you can make it a serial drama so you have a new episode each week.

22. Product reviews

Instead of reviewing books, movies or TV shows, review products and tools. It helps to pick a niche, like beauty, sports gear, hiking equipment or clothing, and stick to products from that niche.

23. Tech

Technology is a vast topic to explore and can take form as several types of podcasts. You could do a podcast talking about the latest tech trends, a weekly roundup of new products that hit the market, tutorials for specific gear, interviews with tech influencers and so much more.

24. Podcasting

If you know a bit about podcasting, then what better topic to choose than, well...podcasting? You could talk about the ins and outs of audio production, mention tools you use to record, edit, and publish your podcast, or even do reviews of other podcasts.

25. Business and entrepreneurship

Do you run your own business or have a profitable side gig? Start a podcast to share your knowledge, or interview other entrepreneurs about their experiences.

26. Sports

What do sports fanatics love more than watching their favorite teams? Talking about their favorite teams with other sports fans! You can pick a certain team, league or sport and cover the latest news, give analysis of a recent match, or even bring on players for interviews.

27. Retirement and older adults

Podcasts aren't just for younger generations. If you cover topics geared toward retired people, you may find a sizable audience. You can try out and review new hobbies, offer advice for transitioning to a new phase of life, or cover the financial aspect of retiring.

28. ASMR

Some people listen to podcasts for relaxation, and ASMR is one of the most popular genres for it. With ASMR, you don't have to talk. Instead, you can make sounds like pops, clicks or whispers that are meant to help listeners relax or fall asleep.

29. Under 10 minutes

Podcasts are often consumed on the go, and some listeners prefer shorter episodes that are packed with content. You could do five-minute explainers, seven minutes of interesting facts or something similar.

30. Improv and games

Scripted, polished podcasts are definitely the preference for many listeners. But improvisation and playing games with guests can also be entertaining, especially if you have some improv training.

FAQs

How do I pick a podcast topic?

To pick a good podcast topic, you need to think about what's important to you. Are there are any questions you want to answer or a topic you're deeply passionate about? What do you want to share with others? Choose something that you won't get tired of talking or thinking about too.

What kind of podcasts are most popular?

Comedy is a top podcasting genre, but other topics like news, true crime, science, pop culture and health are also popular. Ultimately, listeners look for entertainment, valuable information or thought-provoking topics.

What makes a podcast successful?

The most important aspect of every successful podcast is consistency. Whatever cadence you choose to publish your podcast - daily, weekly, monthly, etc. - stick to it. Also, keep your content consistent. Don't talk about health and fitness one week, then news and politics the next week.

How do I make my podcast unique?

The best way to make your podcast stand out is to show off your personality. Engage with your audience and remind them that there's a real person behind the microphone. If you have guests on your podcast, they should also be unique.

Let's wrap up

Starting a new podcast is both exciting and challenging. Don't get stuck on thinking of an idea - there are plenty out there! Give it some thought, do some research, and find a podcast topic that inspires you. If you have that spark, you'll always feel motivated to create new episodes.

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Podcasts are the most popular they've ever been, with new shows hitting Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and other platforms every week. If you've ever aspired to make your own podcast, now is the time. But coming up with an idea for a podcast can seem difficult - how do you know if people will find your show interesting?

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1. Comedy

2. True Crime

3. News

4. Science

5. Pop Culture

6. Health

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1. Consistency

2. Engaging

3. Understandable

4. Relatable

5. Interesting

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1. Show off your personality

2. Researched

3. Inspirational (to you and audience)

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Generate suggestions that identify a current GLOBAL PROBLEM.

For each problem set out the following;

A) What needs to change

B) How you would propose to change it

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Are you planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama for your podcast show?

This guide covers essential topics a beginner should know. We'll cover:

● What is a radio drama?

● Which unique features and characteristics does it have?

● Past and future of radio dramas

● Tips on writing a radio/audio drama script

● Producing a radio drama

● 10 ideas for audio and radio dramas with examples

So if you're all in, let's dive straight in - ----

Chapter 1: Introduction to Radio Dramas

Audio dramas are experiencing a resurgence in popularity as the ear delights gradually win over podcast listeners.

With sound elements only, the audio dramas evoke real-life scenes in the theatre of the mind. Listeners recreate characters in their own image and visualize their actions, akin to enjoying a good novel. The possibilities are limitless.

In this first chapter, we are looking at the fundamentals of radio dramas. So let's get started.

What is a radio drama?

A radio drama is a performance of fictional work distributed on the radio. It's entirely acoustic-based with no visual components. Audiences understand what is happening through dialogue, sound effects, and music. They give the story form by visualizing the settings and characters.

Audio dramas may be fictional works written explicitly for radio broadcasting or podcasting. Alternatively, they may be adapted from theatre plays, novels, short stories, etc.

Now, there's often a need to write audio dramas specifically for radio because theatre plays rely on what the audience can see on stage.

Unique Characteristics of Radio Dramas Compared to Theatre Plays

Here are some unique characteristics of audio dramas, which make them unique compared to theatre plays:

● Audio dramas are entirely dependent on sound (sound effects, music tracks, and dialogue) to convey emotions, ideas, and action;

● Sound effects and thematic music convey the setting, which may be anywhere from outer space to the inner depths of the earth;

● There is no stage management involved, such as lighting cues, prop usage, costume changes, or managing entrances;

● Through dialogue, actors tell the audience what's happening and what they are doing. For instance, announcing the arrival of a new character, they may say, "So you're here."

● While radio plays are sometimes broadcasted live, they are often recorded and aired at another time;

● Radio plays are well suited where the setting and character actions are limited;

● There's no need for actors to learn their lines as they can directly read from the script during recording sessions. While this is true, they still have to study the play to learn how to speak like their characters or to know the sequence of events;

● Radio drama scenes often feature a small number of cast members, as it may be quite difficult for listeners to distinguish between characters if they're too many. It's also quite easy for them to forget if the character is still active in the scene if they go for an extended time without speaking;

● Actors don't use actions, gestures, or facial expressions but only rely on the voice as the audience cannot see them.

Orson Welles War of the Worlds - The Most Famous Radio Drama

Broadcasted on October 30th, 1938, The War of the Worlds went down in history as one of the most famous radio dramas. For the production, Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Company adapted H.G. Well's serialized science-fiction novel published in the 1890s. The show kicked off at 8 p.m. during prime time, with millions tuned in across the United States.

It was formatted as a news bulletin. The presenter began by taking listeners to the Meridian Room at Hotel Park Plaza to be entertained by Ramon Raquello and his Orchestra.

The dance music was interrupted by an alarming announcement that Professor Farrell from the Mount Jenning Observatory had witnessed explosions on Mars. The music resumed playing before another bulletin announced that a meteor had crashed into a farmer's field. Emerging from the crashed metal capsule was a bear-sized glistering Martian with tentacles.

The aliens began arbitrating puny humans on mounted Martian war machines, which terrified the unaware listeners. The realistic performance and the fact that some fell for it cemented the audio drama's notoriety and position in history. And you just have to hear it to enjoy it too:

Radio Drama - A Quick Review of the History

● Radio dramas emerged with the introduction of the théâtrophone in 1881 by Clément Ader. It was a telephonic transmission system that allowed users to listen to theatre and opera performances over phone lines.

● The first English-language radio drama was a brief sketch specially produced for Pittsburgh's KDKA Radio in 1921.

● A Comedy of Danger by Richard Hughes, Recorded in England in 1924, was the first BBC commissioned radio drama.

● The most famous radio drama was War of the Worlds that aired on October 30th, 1938.

● During the golden age of radio, most radio dramas were live shows owing to the poor sound quality of recorded programs. The magnetic era, beginning from 1945, saw a leap in audio fidelity, allowing the recording of radio programs.

● Increased priority for the production of TV programs saw a decline in the production of radio dramas for many networks around the world. Producing radio dramas did not come cheap as networks needed to pay for studio recording time, scriptwriters, and directors.

● The Archers is the world's longest-running radio drama series beginning its national run on 1st January 1951.

● While there has been a decline in the production of radio dramas in the US, the BBC continues to produce radio plays every year. In the Philippines, "This Is My Fate" has remained on-air since 1973.

The Re-Birth of Audio Dramas

Radio dramas have had a new lease of life with the emergence of audio dramas distributed digitally as on-demand podcasts. Many listeners are discovering fictional audio dramas for the first time, finding the format to be as appealing as it was 100 years ago. Podcasts have also made it possible for anyone around the globe to write and produce their own audio dramas, even with a limited cast.

The fictional podcast niche is on the rise, and already, there have been great hits, such as Limetown, a fictional story about the disappearance of over 300 people. It follows the story of Lia, a journalist who decides to investigate the vanishings when no one is bothered to look. Limetown's popularity saw it transition to a TV series. There are more examples of modern audio dramas, including Alice Isn't Dead, Wolf 359, The Magnus Archives, Within the Wires, and Night Vale.

Chapter 2: Producing a radio drama

So how do you start producing an audio drama? Well, the first piece of advice is getting your hands on past radio dramas and fictional podcasts. You need to listen to them noting what you like. Which sound effects did they use? Did you find the acting or plot structure appealing? Did you warm up to the multi-dimensional characters? And so on.

You can even listen to your favorite productions multiple times to uncover their secrets. It's also important to study radio dramas that you don't like, looking for mistakes you can avoid repeating.

Now, in this chapter we will briefly touch on the structure of audio dramas and share up to 10 tips that you can use to write your own radio drama script:

Structure, Format, and Length of Audio Dramas

Audio dramas follow a basic structure. They have a beginning, middle, and end. Depending on the length, the audio drama may have a series of subplots, smaller stories within the plot's main events. You can employ the long-standing dramatic structure that involves exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For instance, during the exposition at the beginning of the play, it's expedient to introduce the Who, What, and Where. Audio dramas will also include similar elements to stage drama such as plot, character, theme, pace, tension, dialogue, and genre.

Now, before you start thinking of the sound effects, you will need to write the script depending on the genre. If you're writing the script for public or commercial radio stations, it should comply with FCC guidelines or other territorial broadcast guidelines that vary with the country.

Are you planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama for your podcast show? Performances may last from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. How many pages will you need to write? One page may give you anywhere from 1 minute to 1.15 minutes. So, 60 pages of material may translate to a 60 to 75-minute show.

Once you're happy with the script, the next process may entail finding actors and conducting rehearsals. You may need to have trial runs with rough recordings and create Forey sound effects. While you can do the recording remotely, it's better to have a group session.

If possible, you can reduce the need for narration. Instead, have characters create the storyline, setting, and action from dialogue alone. For a great example of how to do this, you can listen to The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie, a 1958 BBC play.

10 Tips to Use to Script a Radio Drama

You can use the following tips to enhance your audio drama scripts and make the creative process much easier:

1. Make your purpose clear: Set clear intentions when it comes to the audience and what you want to achieve. Is your audio drama out to convey a message, teach, educate or entertain?

2. Know your audience: You should have some insights into the potential audience for your audio drama. What shows do they like? Which issues do they resonate with?

3. Use sounds and dialogue to introduce visual elements subtlely: Characters should not explicitly mention what they're seeing, but you can find certain ways of introducing visual elements. For instance, you can distinguish between different magical creatures by having different sound effects for each, such as the heavy flapping of wings to denote the arrival of a dragon or the quick flutter of wings for a fairy.

4. Have a few characters with distinct voices and mannerisms: Listeners can't tell apart characters if they become too many or too similar. Apart from making characters sound distinct, think of other mannerisms that distinguish people, such as the words they love repeating, breathing patterns, stutters, etc. You can have up to six key characters, and it's still possible to have a doubling of roles, where someone may fill for minor roles rather than hiring more characters.

5. Use dialogue to give context to sounds: While you should use sound effects, remember that it's only through dialogue that you can give proper context to various sounds. For instance, the heavy flapping of a bird's wings may belong to a vulture keen on scavenging on a rotting corpse or an eagle scooping a squirrel from the barren earth.

6. Make the dialogue sound a bit natural: The dialogue needs to come off as natural, which may be hard to achieve with written prose. That's because people don't always talk in coherent sentences or follow a consistent line of thought. They don't explicitly mention what they're planning to do. For instance, a character may not say, "Let's prepare dinner," but rather, "Let's grill the chicken." Words used by the character also tell us about the background; for instance, a professor may have a formal way of speaking compared to a casual laborer. It's the little nuances that make for a believable audio drama.

7. Vary the pace: The radio drama should have parts with a lot of action and slow scenes where the story develops. You can introduce pace and rhythm with short and long scenes.

8. Hook them from the start: Listeners may have incredibly short attention spans. It's quite important to get to the heart of the action as soon as possible and avoid spending too much time on exposition. In the Unexpected Guest, the play begins with a man knocking at the door. He explains that he has unexpectedly run his car into a ditch. Moments later, we find out that the woman in the house has shot someone.

9. Introduce high-stakes to keep the listener glued: While it's important to hook the listener from the start, it's also important to introduce high-stakes as soon as possible to keep listeners listening for the resolution. Each scene should build on the tension. You also need to have plot twists and surprises for a more entertaining show.

Chapter 3: Radio Drama Ideas

in this chapter, we'll go over some radio drama and audio drama ideas. We'll examine popular genres and provide examples. You can use the following ideas to figure out what to write about or produce. Let's get going:

9 Radio/Audio Drama Ideas

1. Full-cast hilarious musicals

There will be no dancing that the listener can see, but they will certainly hear the singing. Songs, dialogue, and other sound effects will be interwoven into the narrative.

Examples:

● Esther Destined and Redeemed Full Audio Drama Musical - YouTube

2. Narrative Drama

One or more performers speak directly to the listeners to tell the story or comment about actions in the scene. A performer who is not involved in the story may also describe what is happening. The narrator serves as the audience's seeing eye in an otherwise blind medium.

Examples of audio dramas with narrators:

● The Will of the Woods - Episode 1 [Fantasy Audio Drama]

● Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama

3. Short-form Fiction/Short Stories

You can also think of producing short-form fiction for your audio dramas. Think of it as a story that can be finished in one sitting or episode. Short stories have few characters and scenes as they focus on single incidents.
Examples of short-story audio dramas
● Personal Call & Butter in a Lordly Dish

4. Serialized Stories with Continuous Narratives

To execute this audio drama idea, you'll need to publish your story in regular episodes. You don't have to produce everything right away. The key to having a great serialized story is maintaining a regular publishing schedule and creating memorable characters. You should always leave the listeners eager for the next episode. Some fictional podcasts in this format include:

Examples

● Girl in Space

● The Black Tapes

5. Adapted Novels

If you have access to an unfilmable novel, you could very well turn it into an audio drama. With sound effects and dialogue alone, you can literally have any setting and have characters perform any action without the need for pre-planned sets or stunts. Many novels have also been adapted to radio and audio dramas.

Here are examples of adapted novels to audio drama:

● 2020: Gethsemane | A Full-Length Audio Drama

● Indiana Jones and the Well Of Life Audio Drama

Additional ideas for radio drama include:

6. Radio Sitcoms

7. Science Fiction audio dramas

9. Horror Audio Dramas

Bottom Line

Audio dramas can enhance the content on your radio station or may spin-off to independent podcast series. Now, don't fall into the trap of thinking that you'll get better with writing. You need to spend enough time listening to past works. Get a feeling of what makes an audio drama great.

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Radio/Audio Drama Ideas - With Examples and Resources

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Are you planning to produce a radio drama or audio drama for your podcast show? This guide covers essential topics a beginner should know. We'll cover: ● What is a radio drama? ● Which unique features and characteristics does it have?

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Research potential Radio Plays that inspire you.

For each play, consider and identify

A) Theme

B) Characters

C) Length

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What's that knocking sound? Something rattling/rumbling occasionally?

Interesting topic/subject matter - informative - Keeps people engaged as topic has been cleverly chosen

Preparing/rehearsing the words

Kelsey sounds further away from the mics than everyone else

Diction - Daisy -

Some talking over each other, but generally everyone took turns to talk so spoken word could be heard

Whispering about the countdown??!!

Psychology = Good Topic!!

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This page needs JavaScript to work correctly. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

JavaScript is required for the following feature(s):

additional highlighting of break out boxes

opening and closing the navbar (on mobile)

by Matthew McDevitt

A comedy short story about a father and son, separated by prison walls and wrestling with modern life, money, the law and each other while stuck behind different bars. Written as part of the new writing opportunity, 'Short Stories for Grown Ups' from BBC Writers and broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster & BBC Radio Foyle.

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Useful links

Theme toggler

Select a theme and theme mode and click "Load theme" to load in your theme combination.

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Each team will now perform their prepared section to an audience who will be facing away from you to elevate their sense of hearing.

Whilst listening to the prepared section;

·         Create feedback to provide the performers that analyse and comments upon what you have just heard. This can then be given to the performers once they have finished their section

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·         Sounds effects to give physical impression

·         Somewhat unclear at times

·         You’ve got to pour so much more character into the voice

·         Knowledge and confidence in the words/dialogue

·         Ensure vocal warm-ups are conducted prior to reading

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·         Balance of background music to speech – Consider mix

·         Remembering to explain the game before moving into discussion

·         Talk very emphatically about the topic – performers engaged – Passionate

·         Rating system? What’s the rating system?

·         Technology – would it be the same background music throughout?

·         Consolidate structure – working approach to discuss games in topics – Favourites/league table

·         Fun introductions

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How to Write a Podcast Script [8 Free Script Templates]

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Creating a script for your podcast episodes helps prepare you for recording sessions and makes it easier to communicate your message. In this guide, we break down the essential elements of a good outline and share template options so you can create your own podcast script!

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To present their Podcast/Radio Play extract

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To present their Podcast/Radio Play extract

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Please deliver a 5 minute excerpt of your radio play/podcast to receive feedback from your peers.

Robin

Az/Kelsey

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Awkward silence and mumbling – prepared?

This is something you’ve never read before – right? – Az/Kelsey

Clarity of speech is fine, but there’s not excitement

Whispering commands to each other – you should know what you are doing whilst delivering/performing

#bored – you don’t sound enthused about your own Podcast – How are we meant to be excited?

Feels very forced – the dialogue between each other isn’t natural at all..

Rehearse your source material

Volume throughout the podcast needs to be consistent

Clarify pronunciations

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Now that you have received feedback, you have the rest of the session in which to refine and rehearse your Podcast/Radio Play.

Use the feedback provided to you to consider how to improve and develop your Podcast/Radio Play and act upon any areas for development.

26.03.2025 - Educast Suite

02.04.2025 - Educast Suite

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Ava , Beth , Chloe, Danniella , Emily , Sienna. 

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Ava , Beth , Chloe, Danniella , Emily , Sienna. 

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Our idea

You listening and we judge

Judging people’s am I bad person if …

In between that we discuss issues with relationships with the younger generation ( us)- what is a situationship , difference between being closed off and being bf/Gf using are personally experiences and giving advice.

Continuing with I’am a bad person if

And wrapping it up.

Reading comments and up dates on those.

First 15 minutes do the am I a bad person if and state opinions read updates and other people comments

Second 15 minutes talk about normal scenarios of relationships standards and boundaries.

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Recording Slots

Group 4 - R

Group 5 - AK

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This is the final session you will have before you record your Podcast/Radio Play.

What would you expect to see in this session?

Discussions about the material

Rehearsal of the material

Focus on the task at hand

What rehearsal practices should you be demonstrating?

Arriving on time

Repetition

Warm up activities

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Activity in 2026

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Free and easy to use spinner. Used by teachers and for raffles. Enter names, spin wheel to pick a random winner. Customize look and feel, save and share wheels.

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Sitting at the seating set-ups provided in FS005, conduct an entire run through of your podcast/radio play from the start to the finish.