How To Write Radio Plays

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 62, 30 August 1940, Page 41

How To Write Radio Plays

The following hints on play-writing for radio are given by the Production Department of the Commercial Broadéasting Service: "To those of your readers who have not attempted to write a radio play before some indication of the sort of thing that is required by the people who have to produce radio plays may be of interest, and possibly of profit. Some of the remarks that follow may appear to be obviows, but of the many plays received for comment by the Commercial Broadcasting Service, there are few which appear to have been written with an ear to the most important point, namely, that one sense only may be used to perceive the picture which the play writer is endeavouring to paint: Many plays are received which give obvious stage directions and which make no attempt to indicate by conversation or instructions to the producer for sound effects, thet « certain incident is taking place. "It might be suggested to entrants in this competition that they should spend « few evenings in listening closely to plays and serials which are being broadcast-for instance, the Commercial Broadcasting Service’s new serial ‘The Lost Empire? It will then be seen that by means of the spoken word, sound effects and music, an endeavour is being made to present a picture to the listener; and it will also be noticed that unless each incident is being considered by the playwright from this angle the show will not ' hang together? } * " Speaking of effects, it should be borne in mind by playwrights. that almost any sound can be produced by the studios as a background to the spoken word. Indeed, radio plays have been written in which effects, musical * bridges? and excerpts from many musical compositions have made up at least 60% of the entertainment, Interested readers are recommended to search the libraries for books ‘on radio play writing. The main thing to remember, however, is ‘that the whole work must be written with the point constantly in view that the effect will only be ‘produced on the listener through the ear." : SR aig ¥ :