1. Radio Drama
Basics
Writing for the
Media

2. Aims
• To familiarize students with the basic
elements of radio drama
• To introduce students to the concept of
structure
• To introduce students to the scene as one
section of a drama

3. What makes a good story for
radio?

4. The key elements
• Plot
• Characters
• Dialogue
• Structure

5. Plot
• It’s the series of actions and
consequences of the story
• The plot grows from the conflict that arises
when two forces in a play come into
opposition

6. Characters
• They are the people in
the drama
• They are defined by
what they do and what
they say
• They are defined by
their actions

7. Dialogue
• It’s what characters say
and how they say it
• Dialogue establishes
characters and moves the
story forward
• It has to be carefully
designed

8. Structure
• It is how the story is
put together
• Escalating of conflict
or rising action
• Conflict and tension
keep the audience
engaged

9. Story Construction
»Explain the situation
»Introduce the conflict
»Develop the action
»Resolve the action

10. Telling a story in
sounds
• Speech
• Music
• Sound Effects
• Silence

11. Drama in the Life of Christ
1. The violence and anger of a crowd
demanding his execution
2. The shouting grows more vehement
3. The metal clanking of the Roman soldier’s
armour approaching
4. The hammering of nails
5. The agony of the crucifixion
6. The crying of weeping women
7. Christ’s last words are uttered
8. A crash of thunder through to a climax of
discordant music gradually subsiding, quieting
to silence
9. Silence
10. Slowly – bird song
11. Celestial music rising in tone