Directing audio drama
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What You'll Learn
In this insightful and experience-rich session, Caroline Raphael draws on a distinguished career spanning theatre and radio to share her expertise in directing, producing, and commissioning audio drama. As the BBC’s first female Head of Radio Drama and one of the inaugural commissioning editors for BBC Radio 4, Caroline has overseen everything from comedy and documentaries to groundbreaking scripted series. Today, she runs her own independent production company and teaches creative writing and drama students how to bring stories to life through sound.
Through practical examples and candid advice, Caroline explores how to turn a script into a vivid, believable world using nothing but words, sound, and performance. She reveals what makes great direction, how to guide actors effectively, and how to build immersive scenes that allow audiences to “see” through listening. This session is a must for producers, writers, and anyone looking to make audio drama that truly connects.
- You will learn how to
- Analyse a script and visualise its world through sound and performance
- Use diegetic and non-diegetic sound to enhance mood and storytelling
- Direct actors for natural, emotionally authentic performances
- Choose the right recording environment and manage its challenges
- Navigate collaboration, contracts, and creative rights in audio production
- Key Takeaways
- The craft of listening: True directing starts with hearing what the story needs rather than adding more sound.
- Performance and proximity: Real emotion comes from actors sharing space — not performing in isolation.
- Creative control through clarity: From the first draft to final edit, every sound choice shapes the listener’s imagination.
- Protect your work: Define ownership and rights before recording begins.
- Keep learning: The best directors never stop developing their ear, their empathy, and their storytelling instincts.
Caroline Raphael
Caroline Raphael is one of the UK’s most respected audio producers and commissioners. A former BBC Head of Radio Drama and Commissioning Editor for BBC Radio 4, she has worked across drama, comedy and factual programming. Caroline now runs her own independent production company and teaches creative writing, mentoring the next generation of writers and directors exploring the power of sound.