The Play’s The Thing
February 22, 2007
Channel 4 Radio and 4Talent are launching the first ever commercial radio nationwide search for new radio playwrights as part of the channel’s The Play’s The Thing initiative. The competition will give four aspiring writers the opportunity to have their words brought to life, with their scripts professionally produced and broadcast on Channel 4 Radio.
Last year’s The Play’s The Thing search saw university lecturer Kate Betts’ work On The Third Day produced for the West End stage by award-winning producer Sonia Friedman. Kate beat competition from over 2000 entries from around the UK. With radio drama an ideal arena for honing writing talent, this year the search is on to discover fresh radio talent by inviting previously un-produced writers to submit their scripts for a 15-minute radio drama. The scripts can cover any genre and users can submit their entries via www.channel4.com/theplay from Monday12 February, 2007.
Individuals and writing teams of up to three people have until Monday 26 March, 2007, to submit excerpts and character sketches from their radio script, which will then be assessed by a judging panel that includes: Channel 4 New Media Commissioner Adam Gee (who commissioned The Radio Play’s The Thing project); Paul Kent, Programme Manager, Oneword Radio; Annie Caulfield, writer and broadcaster; Trevor Dann, Director, The Radio Academy; Stephanie Sirr, Chief Executive Officer, Nottingham Playhouse; Chris Savery, Chief Executive Officer, Plays on the Net; multimedia producer Maud Hand; and renowned radio producer John Dryden, Goldhawk Productions.
Shortlisted scripts will then be developed through a masterclass process at Channel 4 Radio before being whittled down to four winners. The winning scripts will be produced by their authors in conjunction with The Radio Play’s The Thing’s partners, for broadcast on Channel 4 Radio (www.channel4radio.com) and Oneword Radio (www.oneword.co.uk).
Nathalie Schwarz, Director of Channel 4 Radio, said: “We are very excited about moving into an area which the BBC has dominated for so long. The Radio Play’s The Thing is the perfect vehicle to find the next generation of talent. By giving aspiring writers the chance to have their scripts professionally produced, 4Radio can help identify and develop some of the UK’s most exciting new radio talent, and I’m looking forward to reading some truly innovative and ground-breaking work.”
Adam Gee, New Media Commissioner at Channel4, said: “Radio drama is an ideal arena for new drama-writing talent to spread its wings. And radio is a really dynamic, fast-evolving area within new media. Taken together, The Radio Play’s The Thing is the perfect focus for 4Talent’s passionate quest to identify and support emerging writing and digital talent. ”
Partners in the initiative include Oneword Radio, Plays on the Net, Festival FM and the Radio Academy. A wealth of freelance producing, directing and writing talent has also contributed invaluably to the project.
The original TV series (2006) was commissioned by Jan Younghusband, Commissioning Editor – Arts & Performance, Channel 4, and produced by ScreenStage and Granada with Sonia Friedman Productions. For more information visit www.channel4.com/theplay
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