‘The New World Order’ wins Best Speech at Student Radio Awards

Radio drama The New World Order: Part 2, 1651 has been awarded Gold prize in the Best Speech Programming category of the Student Radio Awards 2013.

Adapted, directed and produced by John Wakefield, based on the novel by Ben Jeapes, Parts 1 and 2 were broadcast on the 11th and 18th November 2012 on University Radio York (URY). Together, they form a four hour radio play featuring a 30-strong cast of University of York students.

The award was presented to John by John Wilson, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. Student Radio Award judges described the work as ‘an ambitious project really well carried out. Impressive.’ Ben Jeapes also commented that the drama’s prize was ‘fantastic news, and no less than it deserved’.

The full submitted entry can be read here, with an audio excerpt from Episode 2 Scene 24 ‘March of Lewes’. URY also won the Silver Best Speech award for Ed Greenwood’s sitcom Trimble.

I composed the soundtrack in close collaboration with John, with drafts of the music and the drama being exchanged frequently. I was incredibly thankful to be able to draw on the talents and generosity of 11 fellow students to record the soundtrack. I’ve also uploaded some photos of the music in rehearsal to my Gallery.

Artwork by John Wakefield