WORKING WITH RADIO FOUR DRAMA
My experience resulted from answering an advert for new writers in the then West Midlands Arts newsletter ( Now Arts Council England West Midlands). The advert was from the new Radio Four Birmingham drama development producer Naylah Ahmed.
I sent her a script I'd previously nearly had made by a small Brighton based independent production company I'd been put in touch with by Dora Bryan. Naylah liked it and invited me to talk about it and this led to further scripts, one of which was Union Of Free Robots. This was selected by the Archers producer Julie Beckett to be taken forward for the work in progress scheme.
The scheme involved development of the script with Julie. There was then an extended sound effects and music recording session. This was followed by a one and a half day rehearsal with professional actors, further script development and a performance in front of audience of BBC staff and local writers.
There followed a discussion of the piece led by a dramaturge who was an experienced writer for radio and TV. This was followed by a one to one discussion with the dramaturge. I found out it was indeed possible to make a good living out of writing, although, more specifically, out of writing for long running serials.