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Template for a radio script, based on extracts from Bow Down Shadrach
Title here: Bow Down Shadrach
1. MUSIC: [A–1] PROGRAMME THEME–UP. ESTABLISH.CONTINUE UNDER.
2. ANNOUNCER: / Yes, listeners, it’s time for Blah blah blah ... Today’s play: “Bow Down Shadrach”. Notice the use of bold font everywhere in the script – that’s because it photocopies better.
3. MUSIC: [B-2] ACTION THEME–UP FULL. FADE.
SCENE ONE: A NEW ZEALAND PADDOCK – DAY
(Hannah and Eliana)
4. SOUND: LIVE SOUND EFFECTS GO HERE – SEA,
SHEEP, CICADAS, COWS
5. SOUND: HANNAH AND ELIANA’S FOOTSTEPS
6. HANNAH: / Do you want to see something really scary?
7. ELIANA: / No
8. HANNAH: / (PAUSE) Well it’s only sort of scary… [If possible, keep all of a character’s lines on a page, but if you run out of room, you
(MORE…)
1. HANNAH: / (CONT’D) have to use the technique of ‘more’ and ‘continued’.
2. ELIANA: / He looks way too old to bow down.
3. HANNAH: / No, he still remembers. I’ll show you. (PAUSE). Better not stand close. (SHOUTS). Bow Down Shadrach!!
4. SOUND: HORSE WHINNIES, AND SHUFFLES ON SPOT.
5. HANNAH: / Bow Down Shadrach!! (SHOUTS LOUDER)
6. SOUND: HORSE WHINNIES, SHUFFLES, CRIES OUT,
FALLS HARD ON GROUND.
SCENE TWO: BARN, NIGHT
(Sky, Mikey, Joe, Sophie, Hannah)
7. SOUND: COWS MOO, ROOSTER CROW, FEET
CRUNCHING ON HAY, HANNAH PATS
SHADRACH’S HEAD
7. SKY / (WHISPERS) Mikey, why’s Hannah crying? I don’t cry when Shadrach gets deaded.
8. MIKEY / (WHISPERS) Shhh Sky, Shadrach isn’t getting deaded.
[Note that each new page restarts the numbering scheme for all cues. This allows quick reference to “page 4, cue #2” when rehearsing.
1. MUSIC: [A-3] CLOSING THEME–UP. CONTINUE UNDER
2. ANNOUNCER / Joins us again next week for another heart-rendering episode of Bow Down Shadrach. This has been a Radio New Zealand drama production.
3. MUSIC: CLOSING THEME – FADES.
THE END.
[SOUND ENGINEER’S NOTE:
The [A-3] in the music cue above indicates playback device ‘A’ and track number ‘3’. It is a good idea to have two playback devices (two CDs) in case one cue comes on the heels of another.]
Template for a radio script, based on extracts from Bow Down Shadrach Page 2 of 3
TKI | Arts/Ngā Materials | Drama | Radio drama Bow Down Shadrach | http://www.tki.org.nz/r/arts/drama/radio