Radio Drama

Radio Drama is all about acting. It's not a DJ course, or about announcing or doing commercial voice-overs. Tutor Michael Wilson writes a play every year for the class to work on and present at the end. The plays tend to be very strange, as they are crammed with all the techniques that a radio actor might use in the course of a career - narration, interior monologue (thinking out loud), addressing a large crowd, running, swimming, fighting, romancing, accents, foley (live sound effects), wide open spaces and intimate interiors. The plays are a riot of craziness and activity which stretch your acting skills to the limit. They tend to be comedies, but there's serious material for you to get stuck into as well. A highly entertaining and stretching week is guaranteed with a final performance that is always a hit.

Michael says “I like my students to have a commitment to working and playing, a willingness to give everything a go and stick the neck out. It helps if you are a pretty good sight reader. It's actually very physical because you have to work harder to get the character across.”

Michael Wilson has been a professional actor since leaving school and has worked in all media (theatre, film, telly, radio and dance) as well as having been senior drama producer for Radio NZ. Michael is currently Station Manager at ArrowFM Community Access Radio in the Wairarapa.