The magic days of radio drama will be relived on October 16 and 18 when Theatre Genesis brings six radio plays to the Redland Museum.
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The plays promise some sentimental nostalgia, harking back to a time when listeners huddled around the mantle radio.
“Listening to the plays would ensure that people would be alternately enraptured, terrified or brought to tears – all through the magic of the spoken word and our own wonderful imaginations,” Director Jan Nary said.
Ms Nary said that with the support of RedFest and RPAC, a radio drama workshop in 2014 saw the birth of several brand new radio dramas by local playwrights.
The six plays are taken from these. They are Sounds of Silence by Linda Stevenson (light comedy), Short Shrift by Margaret Dakin (crime thriller), First Date by Danielle Carey (light romantic comedy), Stranger Danger by Laura Ayson (chiller thriller), At the Movies by Jan Corr (family comedy) and Battered Haddock by Jan Nary (thriller).
The plays involve a cast of eight local actors.
“In radio plays, the people can be as old or as young as they like – any age and any nationality if they have the accent. They will be presented as if you, in the audience, were in the studio watching a live broadcast; actors with scripts in hand, sound effects, a gorgeous girl chorus and the most important ingredient of all – your imagination.”
“Join us for the journey through the human heart as we unfold tales of love, exasperation, jealousy, murder, and hope. Join us for a good laugh, a good cry and a whole raft of memories.”
The plays are also a training ground for film and television students from Sheldon College under the guidance of teacher David Freeman who are doing digital sound effects.
Between plays, the Broadway Babes will enhance the experience with a smattering of 1930s radio music including The Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Paper Moon.
BayFM Project Manager Jim Gilbert will then run his plays on his Showcase arts program, as pre recorded by Michael Coles.
The plays will be presented at 7.30pm on October 16 and 2pm on October 18. Tickets are $15 and can be booked on 3286 3494. On October 17, the show goes to MagdaArtz, at Bardon.
