Codes and Conventions of By Kieran Dunbar

Radio Drama
Difference of Post-Modern and Traditional

Post-Modern
A post-modern radio drama is a
complicated way of telling a story
within a radio drama. They tend to
create questions rather than answer
them and they rely on the audience
to solve and answer them.
Traditional
A traditional radio drama is where it
follows a classic structure of a
drama, where it contains a detailed
story and a handful of various
characters, one of them could
possibly be a narrator.
CODES
Words, Voices & Speech

Words Explanation Voices & Speech Explanation Example

Voices and Speech are an
Words in a radio drama effective way to express the way
are the only way the a character behaves, what kind
audience will know what of personality he/she has and
how they can be specifically
is happening, literally recognized in a radio drama.
everything is explained Voices are usually found out by
in words. The emotions, how old characters voices are
and if they have accents to them
expressions and even as well. People being feel
the descriptions are sympathetic towards others, are
explained in words. a good way tospeech.
know their tone of
An example for words in a post modern
radio drama (The Blind Mans Confession,
1:02) is how the main character explained,
how he drove the car before the accident.
It gives the audience more information of
the way he drove, so they can understand
it more.
An example for voices & speech in a
traditional radio drama (The Archers, 1:06),
is the way both characters talk to each
other in a serious and argumentative. It
makes the audience curious of how the
situation will come out.
Music and Sound

Music and Sound Example

Music and Sound are of great value for a An example of music and sound in a
radio drama. The sound are a good way post modern radio drama (The Blind
to express to the audience the feel of Mans Confession, 3:00) is how the
the area around the characters and environment around the main character
maybe predict the actions that will is heard and felt like. With the sound of
come later in the drama. lighting, raining and the rustling against
The music is also a good way to enhance rocks, the scene can be acknowledged
the atmosphere to the audience, of how within a dark and dank place.
the characters feel.
Ambience and Silence

Ambience and Silence Example

Ambience helps to set the mood of a An example of ambience and silence
certain scene in a radio drama. It in a traditional radio drama (The
requires a lot of details, due to the lack Archers, 1:32 and 2:13) is how both
of visuals for the audience. characters talk loudly to eachother to
Silence is a nice way to produce probably predict when they will take
suspense and dramatic effects in the a pause in talking, using long breaks
drama, making the audience question near the end of their conversations.
what will happen next. It is also used to
signal the end of a certain scene.
CONVENTIONS
Aural Signposting
Aural Signposting
Aural signposting is where the setting of
a specific scene is heard through audio
cues, like for example: vehicle sounds
and nature, instead of visual signposts.
It could also mean when characters in
the radio drama include the thing or
action that they are interacting with, so
the audience knows what's happening.
Example
An example aural signposting in a post
modern radio drama (The Blind Mans
Confession, 1:33) is where the crash is
explained in audio cues for example:
lightning, car crash, water and raining.
This gives the audience more
information to know what happened in
the radio drama and keeps them
listening.
 Cliff-hanger Endings
Cliff-hanger Endings
A cliff-hanger is basically a serious and
dramatic event that happens at the end of
a programme or radio drama, because the
characters have been building it up for the
end of it, to have a big effect on the
audience.
This makes them eager to know what
comes next in the next one, because they
are curious and wanting to know more.
Example
An example of cliff-hanger ending in a
radio drama (Altaban the Magnificent,
41:20 - 43:11), is where the dramatic
reveal of one of the characters gets said
at the end of the drama.
That will make the audience listening,
want to come back to find out more of
what happens to the characters in the
radio drama.
Flashback

Flashback
A flashback is essentially a short re-explanation of an
important event that happened in a characters past, to
inform the audience that they might have missed
something big and serious for the storyline.
Use of Fades

Use of Fades Example

Using fades in a radio drama, is a good An example of the use of fades in a
way to let the audience know that traditional radio drama (The Archers,
there will be a transition at the start, 2:13) is how the scene ends with fading,
in-between scenes or at the end of it. because the characters slowly end the
conversation with a detailed final
It is mostly used in music, with it sentence and the next scene is
fading in and out, to make sure the completely different from the last
audience doesnt lose track of the scene, because of the new sound effects
story in the radio drama. heard in it.
Characterisation
Characterisation
Characterisation is a way to describe a
character or characters in a radio drama.
This is heard through speeches and
descriptions of actions that the characters
do.
This can also be heard through the
characters voices. When they speak, you
will be able to identify how they feel,
because of their gender, personality and
behaviour.
Example
An example of characterisation in a post
modern radio drama (The Blind Mans
Confession, 6:50) is how both characters
talk in such different ways.
The main character has got a deep voice,
explaining he is a young male adult and
when he was confronted with the killer,
his personality is scared and worried.
Chronological Development

Chronological Development
Chronological Development is the way the events that happen in
a radio drama are arranged. They are mostly told in order of
time.
This is important because the radio drama needs to be
completed in a specific timeslot, because it will be live.
Narration
Narration
Narration is an effective way of
telling the story from a different
point of view. A narrator tells the
story, in certain points while it plays.
This is extremely important for radio
drama as the narrator explain parts
the characters cant and it helps the
audience understand it better.
Example
An example of narration in a post modern
radio drama (The Blind Mans Confession,
8:22) is how the main character explains and
describes his experience he had with the
killer.
The main character uses strong words and
deep thoughts to tell the audience that his
experience was just horrible and that will
probably make them want to listen more,
because they feel for his character in the
radio drama.
Direct Speech

Direct Speech
Direct Speech is where the narrator talks directly to the
audience, therefore breaking the fourth wall.
The audience then can relay on important information that the
stuff the narrator has told them.
Titles and Credits
Titles and Credits
Titles are where the narrator says at
the beginning of the radio drama, the
characters that will be introduced and
possibly what the drama will be about.
Credits are where a list of people that
were in the drama and people who
were involved with the production of
the radio drama. This can be used to
bookend the production.
Example
An example of titles and credits in a
post modern radio drama (The Blind
Mans Confession, 11:48) is how the
narrator explains all the people that
worked on the radio drama.
He credits all the important people
that helped and even the websites
where he got his sound effects.
STRUCTURES
Duration
Duration
Duration is basically the length of a
radio drama, how long it is in time.
The duration is also important in
radio dramas, because there are
time limits for it to be finished,
because there might be other
dramas the audience might want to
listen to.
Example
An example of duration in a post
modern radio drama (The Blind Mans
Confession, 11:48) at the end in the
credits, the creator of the radio
drama explains that the production
was recorded live and that the sound
effects were taken from a website.
Narrative Structure

Narrative Structure
The narrative structure is where it consists of traditional parts of
a story and the order in which the audience hears them.
They provide a framework for the unfolding of the storyline in
the radio drama.
Development of Plot

Development of Plot
The plot is probably the most important part of a radio drama,
because it is the amount of events that happen to make a story.
The development of the plot, is where the events happen in
order, to move onto the next one to keep the story going and
keep the audience entertained into watching more.
STYLES
Appropriateness to TA
Appropriateness to TA
Appropriateness to Target Audience
is important when developing your
radio drama, because once you have
chosen your target audience, you
have to keep your script aimed and
relaivent to that specific age group.
Example
An example of appropriateness to
Target Audience would be, that if you
have you have a serious crime
fighting script that was aimed at
youngsters (7 12), then the target
audience wouldnt be correct for the
script.
Dramatic Reconstruction

Example
Dramatic Reconstruction
An example of Dramatic
Dramatic Reconstruction is where you Reconstruction would be, that you
begin a process to re-assess the might have to re-assess the script,
whole radio drama and make changes because there might be grammatical
to anything that might be tied to it, or punctuational errors and it could
before the drama gets aired. end up confusing the audience a bit,
It solves big problems and is quite if it gets aired.
important in the finishing of your
radio drama.
Drama Styles

Drama Styles Example

Drama Styles are the basic types of An example of Drama Styles, could be
genres that your radio drama could that one style is: Traditional. That
be based off of, when in production. style of drama is where is consists a
There are a variety of styles, that are big storyline and many characters,
all completely different from each including a narrator and has a simple
other, that you drama could be storyline structure.
stylised in.
Creation of Mood
Creation of Mood
Creation of Mood is where elements
that provide specific vibes, emotions
or feelings in listeners, that get
heard through words or descriptions,
so the audience will know exactly
what mood to put on while listening
to the radio drama.
Example
An example of Creation of Mood,
would be that if an argument was
going down in the radio drama, the
audience would feel a bit unnerving
and maybe even scared, of what is
going on and what will possibly
happen between the amount of
characters.