Codes and Conventions of radio dramas:
- an episode can have no more than 6 characters otherwise this would be confusing for the listenener
-Structure; is set up...struggle...resolution. You can reverse this if the set-up is more dramatic and explosive than the resolution.the play is regarded as a series of phases
-Dialogue; this is what engages the listener dramatically with the world. Characters inform, argue, amuse, outrage, argue through the ebb and flow of dialogue. Great radio plays are made.....by talking in dramatic dialogue.
-A radio play has scenes like a stage play, It is useful to think of a scene as a sequence. One sequence, or scene, might consist of one line of dialogue, or it might just consist of a crucial sound effect (know as FX)
-every bit of speech must help the plot move in some direction, increasingly involving the listener as it does.
-need to think about sound effects, music, and, something rarely appreciated by the inexperienced writer, silence. Silence can convey a variety of things: suspense, anxiety, tranquillity. Pauses also help listeners take in what they have heard and help prepare for what happens next.
-A variety of sounds is essential for holding the listeners' attention and engaging their interest. This variety can be achieved by altering the length of sequences, the number of people speaking, the pace of the dialogue and location of action.
-Sound Effects These should be used sparingly and effectively. They can be used functionally, e.g. door opening, or to create a mood, e.g. dogs barking in the distance on waste-land. If used to excess they become tedious and pointless.
-Radio plays must run to exact lengths as the programme schedule is always fixed.

Silver Street

Another drama produced by the BBC, is 'Silver Street. Silver Street is a radio soap opera, the first such to be aimed at the British South Asian community, and is broadcast on the BBC Asian Network. It was introduced in 2004. The target audience for this drama would be much younger, of early 20s, also which are addressed through the characters in the drama.

Social groups explored in this drama are teenagers and their lifestyles, how they go through relationships and when they end badly how it impacts them. Also another social group is family and the respect it holds for the parents. Furthermore how they care and protect one another, and sacrifice aspects within their life to help members. Also it is representing multi-cultural society, which was an aim for BBC to become more diverse.

Codes and Conventions followed by Silver Street:


- 8-10 charcaters which is unconventional for a radio drama
-3/4 scenes
-Dialogue; speech is crucial as it gives a good idea of the atmosphere being created
-has sound effects; both diagetic and non-diagetic
-every bit of speech must help the plot move in some direction, increasingly involving the listener as it does.
-silence for 3seconds to show scene change
-pauses also used to give the listener time to coprehend with what they've said and also makes it more dramatic

http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528KE%252CNone%252C17%2529radio%2Badvertising%2524&contentSet=IAC-Documents&sort=DateDescend&tabID=T004&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=SPN.SP00&searchId=R4&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=bclib&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28K0%2CNone%2C26%29radio+drama+advertisements%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=CJ97605148&docType=IAC

Copy and paste this URL into the web browser to access website.

This link is what we found on radio advertising, it is an article however which shows radio times listing and a mini synopsis, to show what is to happen in the episode being played.


Below are more examples of radio adverts.

http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale(en%2C%2C)%3AFQE%3D(ke%2CNone%2C12)radio+drama+%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D(pu%2CNone%2C25)%22Times+(London%2C+England)%22%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&tabID=T004&prodId=SPN.SP00&searchId=R5&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=bclib&docId=CJ207797819&docType=IAC




http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale(en%2C%2C)%3AFQE%3D(ke%2CNone%2C12)radio+drama+%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D(pu%2CNone%2C25)%22Times+(London%2C+England)%22%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&tabID=T004&prodId=SPN.SP00&searchId=R5&currentPosition=15&userGroupName=bclib&docId=CJ177012898&docType=IAC