Writing plays

HOW BBC RADIO COMMISSIONING WORKS I've had work commissioned by BBC Radio 4 with no prior knowledge, so knowing how difficult it seems, being on the outside, I thought I'd pass on my experience and a few tips. It's a fantastic medium and only limited by your imagination. LISTEN TO IT Firstly if you want to write for R4 you need to listen to it (duh). Yeah yeah you say but you'd be amazed at the number of scripts I used to read (I offered some kind critiques on scripts for an independent radio company) that went on for 20 minutes. Or 3 hours. There are no slots for 20 minute scripts on R4. You ... more

Play writing is quite unlike any other form of creative or functional writing, and moving into it is surprisingly difficult. At school, we are introduced to story writing and probably a bit of poetry. The odds are you will be at least moderately advanced in years before you look at play writing. Don't be surprised then if it doesn't come easily. As with all things literary, one of the best ways to learn is to read the work of others. I would strongly recommend a combination of reading plays and seeing the same ones performed on the stage. The production of a play is a collaboration between ... more

A cold dusty corner of Ciao. Lights dimmed slightly. A group of people stage left. Karen(UK) stage right. Hear’say’s Pure And Simple playing softly in the background. Slight mumbling, as people talk quietly. SQUIDGET : Nice music, Karen. KAREN(UK) : Thanks, James, I thought you’d like it. BrianLFC's just left though, he hates Hear'say. SQUIDGET : I know, I saw his op. What are you doing out here anyway? Aren’t you going to join me and Alex for a few drinkies? KAREN(UK) : Yeah, in a minute. I’m just working on my latest op. SQUIDGET : Really? What’s it on ... more