Listening Task

You are
want)

required to listen to the first 5 minutes of each of the following (You can listen to more if you
Everyday Time Machines (nominated for best single drama)
The Archers (longest running radio drama in history)
Rumpole staring Benedict Cumberbatch

Note down what sounds you hear and how you know where they are and what is happening. The point
of Radio drama is to set the scene through SOUND rather than visual

Drama
Everyday
Time
Machines
What is drama
about?

Two
competitive
scientists. It
has their
personal
lives
involved
including
their work.
They are put
against each
other to
figure out a
riddle. There
is a change
in events
from the
beginning
when their
love interest
Samantha
dies
suddenly. It
is a nonlinear piece.

Use of sound

Use of
Narrative

(Back ground
sounds for
location
settings)

(How are they

talking)

There is
diegetic
sound of the
script.
Non-diegetic
sounds are
used; soft
and mellow
music to
create an
atmosphere.
Silence has
a large
impact also
creating an
atmosphere
for the
audience.

The
audience
follows the
story as an
outsider, the
voice actors
speak slowly
allowing the
information
and
emotions to
be absorbed
creating a
greater
involvement
.

Use of
Music
Music is
played to
create an
ambience
and
enhance
the mood.
The music
is also used
to establish
a change in
time; the
future.

Use of silence
Silence is used
in this drama to
create an
ambience most
commonly
gives the
audience time
to reflect about
what has just
happened.

Characters
or narrator
(How many?
Male / female?)

There are
two main
characters
who are
both male,
there are
also other
characters
who allow a
story to be
built also to
make it
more
interesting;
conflicts and
competition.

The voice
actors have
to use
expression
through
their sounds
because the
audience is
unable to
gain
information
about the
characters
feelings
through
facial/body
movement.

The Archers

What is drama
about?

The drama
is set in a
small
village, the
drama
follows the

Music; nondiegetic is
used at the
beginning of
the drama
as an
introduction
which makes
familiar and
recognisable
to audiences
but this is

The
characters
all have a
defined
accent
which
establishes
their
location but
also tone is
used to
determine

Music is
used in
intro;
happy and
upbeat
song to set
a mood for
the
audience.
The
soundtrack
is also very

Silence is used
for change of
scenes/location
s within the
village.

The drama
follows the
lives of the
people who
live in the
village who
are both
men and
women of a
varied ages.

lives of the
people who
live in the
village. The
archers is a
multiple
narrative,
each of the
characters
has their
own voice
and
background.

not used
throughout
the drama
Diegetic
sound is
used for the
characters

Rumpole

What is drama
about?

This drama
follows the
story of his
life, it is nonlinear
because the
story
doesnt
follow a
straight
structure; it
switches
from the
young and
elder
rumpole in
an effective
way to tell
his story.
The main
subject is
law and the
cases that
he is dealing
with/dealt
with.

There is an
introduction
of music
played. The
music is
quite old
fashioned
and so you
know that
the story is
set in older
years.
Part of the
story is set
on a train.
This is
determined
through the
use of
sound; train
tracks.
It is all told
by one
character
but two
different
people read
the script to
establish the
younger and
older age of
him.

character
profiles.
The
audience
are from the
outside
looking in; it
can be
relatable
because of
the
storylines to
a specific
target
audience.

specific to
this drama
making it
familiar.