in which SEVEN WRITERS ages 14-18
WROTE A WHOLE RADIO SERIES IN JUST TWO WEEKS
1-14 August 2022
We ventured into new scriptwriting territory yet again, this time diving deep into the medium of radio & the fast-paced process of a writersroom. RADIO WRITER-ZOOM gave 7 young people the task of co-creating a multi-episode radio show, with our Young Playwrights mentors acting as showrunners.
The group of writers (6 from NI and 1 from England) got to know each other super-quickly – then worked at warp speed to design a fantasy world called Oratorio, populated with gods of music, their cult leaders (reluctant and otherwise) and some talking animals. Each of them wrote an episode of this seven-part comedy-drama sci-fi thriller series. THE CHORDS THAT BIND. For the grand finish, we collaborated with a professional team (director, sound designer, virtual stage manager & actors) to create a live recording of the full radio series for a public audience — all on Zoom. (Whew!)
Like all our Young Playwrights projects, this was free and open to young writers from across NI. Being totally online meant we were able to welcome a runner-up for of the Papatango Young Playwrights Award too, thanks to our partners Papatango Theatre Company in England. Creating connections between young writers across different geographies is something we loved, and are hoping to make happen in future projects too.
Here is a full recording of the live read of The Chords That Bind, created via Zoom on 14th August 2022 by performers in NI, ROI and England.
Writers
JACK DICKINSON, JAY MEBAN, KARA MORRICE, ARAD NAYERI, RACHEL WILKINSON, BETH ANN WILSON, NIAMH DAVIS WILSON
Performers
MEGAN ARMITAGE, MELISSA DEAN, EOGHAN LAMB & BRENDAN QUINN
Showrunners & Writing Mentors
EMILY DeDAKIS & KARIS KELLY
Director
EOIN CLELAND
Sound Designer
MARTY BYRNE
Virtual Stage Manager
NATALIE MURPHY
Here is the full script of THE CHORDS THAT BIND including episodes by each writer: THE CHORDS THAT BIND
Ep. 1: DA CAPO by Jack Dickinson
Ep. 2: ADAGIO by Jay Meban
Ep. 3: THE ENEMY WITHIN by Arad Nayeri
Ep. 4: CRESCENDO by Kara Morrice
Ep. 5: DIMINISHED by Niamh Davis Wilson
Ep. 6: A QUICKENING TEMPO by Beth Ann Wilson
Ep. 7: CADENCE by Rachel Wilkinson
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Massive thanks to our funders Backstage Trust & Foyle Foundation, who made possible all three Young Playwrights projects in 2021-’22.
