Page 1

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’

Template for a radio script, based on extracts from Bow Down Shadrach Page 1 of 3
TKI | Arts/Ngā Materials | Drama | Radio drama Bow Down Shadrach | http://www.tki.org.nz/r/arts/drama/radio
 Page 2
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

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
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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 3 of 3
TKI | Arts/Ngā Materials | Drama | Radio drama Bow Down Shadrach | http://www.tki.org.nz/r/arts/drama/radio