• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Audio Dramaturgy: Theatre of the Ear

Module description

This module will give you the opportunity to learn about writing for radio. Initially you will explore the history of radio drama and theories about the power of the solo listener who creates the world through ekphrasis, ghosting, and imagination. We will begin by examining Orson Welles’ watershed War of the Worlds (1938) as an example of a radio drama in which representation shaped reality. You will continue our exploration by looking at radio as an evolving medium by examining specific play texts written for radio, particularly through the renaissance of podcasting and outlets like Radio Drama Revival. You will craft three pieces of radio: a 2 minute monologue, a 5 minute dialogue, and a short play.

Module aims - intentions of the module

• To investigate the history of radio drama
• To understand the concept of ‘theatre of the ear’, ekphrasis, and ghosting
• To explore writing for radio through workshops
• To write short plays for radio
• To record and edit short radio plays

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Engage with a range of audio drama practitioners both historically and in the contemporary moment
• 2. Understand theories of audio drama, specifically emphasis, imagination, and ghosting
• 3. Demonstrate an understanding of dramaturgical issues regarding the writing and shaping of a play or performance text for audio drama

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Devise, layout, write and present a radio script in a professional manner.
• 5. Demonstrate the ability to engage critically and analytically from different theoretic perspectives, to explore theoretical concerns through practice and vice versa, and to synthesise findings in practical and written tasks.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Develop advanced research skills using personal initiative
• 7. Develop solution-based techniques to critique scripts, diagnose dramaturgical problems and find solutions
• 8. Collaborate in various groups and group sizes, to learn elements of teamwork and presentation, to negotiate and manage conflict when appropriate and to demonstrate leadership skills when appropriate.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• You will explore audio dramaturgy as theatre of the ear for a solo listener through an examination of the history of radio drama from the recording of live stage broadcast radio in the early twentieth century to contemporary audio dramas produced independently and by the BBC.
• You will explore three key theories: ghosting, ekphrasis, and imagination.
• You will examine a range of audio drama examples and think about best practice for writing for audio drama and creating ‘theatre of the ear’, and more specifically in writing dialogue and creating narration through a series of writing exercises and workshops. From these you will produce original scripts for radio, including a monologue, a duologue, and a short play.
• You will also be introduced to recording and editing techniques.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• Crook, Tim, Radio Drama London: Routledge
• Grove, Claire and Stephen Wyatt (2013) So You Want to Write for Radio Drama. London: Nick Hern.
• MacLoughlin, S. (2008) Writing for Radio (4th edition). Bristol: Soundplay
• Caulfield, A. (2009) Writing for Radio: A Practical Guide. Marlborough: Crowood Press

Recommended  

• Boardman-Jacobs, S (2004) Radio Scriptwriting, Seren, Poetry Wales Press Ltd.
• Best Radio Plays (annual anthology of radio plays), Methuen

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts 
• ELE

Key words search

Dramaturgy, radio drama, audio drama