Producing a radio drama

The producer's role is to have the ideas. He /she considers what the audience might like to hear and works to have the drama written, performed, and recorded.

Once the producer has come up with an idea for a radio drama, he/she must sell the idea to the boss. That might be the radio station manager, the programme controller, or the head of the drama department.

Plan for the production process. This might involve working out a production schedule and timeline, drawing up a budget, hiring scriptwriters, actors, technicians to record the drama. It also might involve sourcing material such as music to accompany the drama, obtaining rights to scripts and music to be used in the production.

Prepare material for use in the recording process. For example the producer works with the scriptwriter to edit the script as it is written, collates sound recordings, selects music, books recording studio time and equipment, organises the rehearsal schedule.

Manage the studio session. This will involve introducing the team, providing a production schedule so that everyone knows what will happen, providing scripts for each person involved, overseeing rehearsals, and recording changes and cues onto a master script. The producer also provides actors and technicians with feedback during the recording sessions about the work, rehearses for inflection, pauses, pitch, pace and movement, listens to suggestions from actors and technical team, and makes decisions about the way the play is to be performed.

At the end of the recording process the producer is responsible for thanking participants, ensuring that the studio is left clean and tidy, reporting any equipment faults so that they can be repaired for the next user and for returning any borrowed equipment. The producer must also oversee the editing process while the best takes are chosen and sound effects and music are added.

The producer must also complete administrative tasks such as recording programme details to be included with the final recording, write cue sheets and introductions to the play, organise payment of contributors, develop publicity material for the play, and answer correspondence received about the play after it is broadcast.