Format for radio play scripts

A radio play script follows a distinctive format that allows the playwright to convey how sound and music will be used in the performance. For instance:

• one page of dialogue is approximately one minute of air time
• each scene should be numbered
• lines are usually double spaced
• sound and music cues are triple spaced
• paragraphs are triple spaced
• all cues are capitalised and numbered. Cue numbers start at number 1 on each page
• notes for pronunciation, physical action, and position of characters are indented
• the script is typed on one side of the paper only to reduce handling noise
• high quality paper is used where possible as it makes less noise than cheap paper.

See the Template for a radio script, based on extracts from Bow Down Shadrach (Word 45KB)

Radio scripts on the Web

There are a large number of radio scripts available on the Internet. Do a search for 'Simply Radio Scripts' to find modern and old time radio plays that you might like to read and produce in class. Some examples are: The Time Machine, Abbott and Costello, Flash Gordon, and The Lone Ranger.