The Stage

Channel 4 writing competition’s winning entries to be broadcast online

Published Wednesday 7 May 2008 at 16:35 by Matthew Hemley

Exclusive: The winning scripts from Channel 4’s writing competition The Radio Play’s the Thing will receive their world premieres this summer.

Hundreds of writers entered the competition last year, from which four were selected to have their work produced and streamed on Channel 4 Radio, the broadcaster’s online radio offering.

Four established directors have been hired by Channel 4 to work on the productions, with Shameless’ Noreen Kershaw brought in to lead To the Broad Shore, a play about euthanasia by Andy Prendergast.

Meanwhile, former literary director at the Palace Theatre Watford, Joyce Branagh, has directed Andrew McIlroy’s The Interpreter, while Sarah Weatherall, who runs Lightning Ensemble, has overseen the production of The Colonel, a play about the death of a Chilean dictator by Caroline Gilfillan.

Finally, Andrew Foster, who developed the US comedy Flight of the Conchords and who is a director with New Zealand theatre company Trouble, has overseen Stephen Todd’s Proud Songster.

Each director has received support from prolific radio producer John Dryden.

The plays’ executive producer Maud Hand told The Stage the plays would be presented on Channel 4 Radio next month. It is understood that the productions will also be available as podcasts from Channel 4’s own website.