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The Dark is Rising: Young Writers’ Radio Drama

In 2022, our 12-part radio dramatisation of Susan Cooper’s classic 1970s novel The Dark is Rising was released on BBC World Service. Adapted for radio by Simon McBurney and author Robert MacFarlane, all episodes are now available on BBC Sounds for families to listen to and enjoy together, across the world.

Through our Young Writers’ Radio Drama programme, we worked with young writers, inspired by listening to The Dark is Rising, to create their own radio plays; capturing the experience of bringing words off the page and to life through sound.

The programme ran from 2023 – 2025, with 4 radio plays produced across two rounds of submissions.

We’ve created an updated Write Your Own Radio Drama guide for 2026 offering guidance on writing for radio, tips on what makes an effective audio drama, and creative exercises to help writers develop their ideas in their own time.

 

2025 winning dramas:

The Melody for You by Ela Uzture

My Eastening Wind by Albert Senton

2024 winning dramas: 

Thieves! by Lydia Kolimechkov

The Carpenter’s Flame by Leyla Tompson

 

You can listen to the winning plays below.

2025 winning plays

The Melody for You My Eastening Wind

2024 winning plays

Thieves! The Carpenter’s Flame

2025

2024

“I feel inspired to write more and enter more competitions! I think meeting people in Complicité was the best part of this. I found it really fun because everyone was so good at doing different voices and had inventive ways to make sound effects!” Lydia Kolimechkov
“I have always enjoyed writing stories but writing a script was a new thing for me. I found the different style fun and exciting to write, especially as I got to see it turned into an actual radio play! ” Leyla Tompson
“As a director I wanted to create a collaborative and experimental space in the studio where everybody could help to invent unusual sound effects, create atmosphere and even devise the theme songs together. Seeing Leyla and Lydia’s enjoyment as the actors lifted their words off the page was the best part of the day and I hope that they will be inspired to keep developing as writers.” Catherine Alexander

© Sarah Ainslie & Natalie Raaum

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