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Something in the Water
Those of you who follow me on Twitter may remember, back in March, me talking about recording a radio play at the BBC Oxford Road studios in Manchester. Apart from a lack of sleep and a somewhat sinister painting in my hotel room...
...(I mean, seriously, that was looming over my bed) it was a lovely experience. The play is called Something in the Water, and it's going to be broadcast this Wednesday (October 19th) at 2.15pm, in the Afternoon Play slot on BBC Radio 4. Sometime after that it'll be available (yes, internationally) on the BBC iPlayer (I'll post a link). It's the second in a series of three horror plays, the All the Dark Corners season, broadcast from Tuesday to Thursday, the others being Andrew Readman's The Desk and Rosemary Kay's The Dying Wish.
...(I mean, seriously, that was looming over my bed) it was a lovely experience. The play is called Something in the Water, and it's going to be broadcast this Wednesday (October 19th) at 2.15pm, in the Afternoon Play slot on BBC Radio 4. Sometime after that it'll be available (yes, internationally) on the BBC iPlayer (I'll post a link). It's the second in a series of three horror plays, the All the Dark Corners season, broadcast from Tuesday to Thursday, the others being Andrew Readman's The Desk and Rosemary Kay's The Dying Wish.
The play concerns a famous science writer, James Woolmer, who, following a scandal, moves with his novelist wife, Erica, to a house beside a lake. James doesn't believe in Lachey, the lake monster of local legend. And then... well, bad things start to happen.
Something in the Water is my second collaboration with the wonderful producer/director Nadia Molinari (the first being the Iain M. Banks adaptation The State of the Art). Here she is communicating between the control room and the studio floor.
The play stars James Nickerson as James, and Zara Turner as Erica. They were both tremendously enthusiastic, and put so much thought and consideration into their parts. One of the surprising things about radio drama is how much physical acting is done. Here's James preparing to 'fix the plumbing under a sink' with Zara and our wonderful young lead Joel Davies (who plays their son Ben) looking on. The lady in the headphones is studio manager Vanessa Nuttall.
While Nadia alternated between directing on the studio floor and returning to the control room, studio manager Paul Cargill stayed at the desk...
Paul was also the sound designer for this play, so a lot of what you hear is down to him. His other life is as a member of DJ Mark Radcliffe's band Pogue Mahone.
The play stars James Nickerson as James, and Zara Turner as Erica. They were both tremendously enthusiastic, and put so much thought and consideration into their parts. One of the surprising things about radio drama is how much physical acting is done. Here's James preparing to 'fix the plumbing under a sink' with Zara and our wonderful young lead Joel Davies (who plays their son Ben) looking on. The lady in the headphones is studio manager Vanessa Nuttall.
While Nadia alternated between directing on the studio floor and returning to the control room, studio manager Paul Cargill stayed at the desk...
Paul was also the sound designer for this play, so a lot of what you hear is down to him. His other life is as a member of DJ Mark Radcliffe's band Pogue Mahone.
As well as bringing such thoughtfulness and strength to his role, James also brought a certain... between-takes exuberance...
Here's what I mean by physical acting, with James getting into some rough action with the excellent Conrad Nelson, who plays PC Ruskin, the other major part.
To be joined, a moment later, by Ruth Alexander-Rubin, who plays Helen, and the very funny Stephen Hoyle, who plays Batley.
The other member of the cast, who I didn't manage to get a photo of, was Jonathan Keeble, who plays Peter.
Here's what I mean by physical acting, with James getting into some rough action with the excellent Conrad Nelson, who plays PC Ruskin, the other major part.
To be joined, a moment later, by Ruth Alexander-Rubin, who plays Helen, and the very funny Stephen Hoyle, who plays Batley.
The other member of the cast, who I didn't manage to get a photo of, was Jonathan Keeble, who plays Peter.
Apart from enjoying the company of fine actors showing off their craft, the best thing about recording a radio play is the sound effects. Check out, for example, this collection of slamming doors and squeaky hinges...
And when there's a need for the terrifying sounds of something moving in the lake...
All of which is very convincing, I might add.
And when there's a need for the terrifying sounds of something moving in the lake...
All of which is very convincing, I might add.
It's rare that I've so thoroughly enjoyed the experience of putting something together, and I think the enthusiasm and care of the whole team shine through in the finished product. Please give it a listen and tell me what you think. Cheerio!
Labels:
BBC Radio 4,
Nadia Molinari,
Something in the Water
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Just finished listening. I enjoyed that. Great creepy fun.
Very dark for an afternoon play. Haven't had such a feeling of impending dread from the radio in a good while. Excellent work :)
Loved the play very HPL/Ramsey Campbell :)
Thanks very much, everyone.