theme song and incidental music for a radio comedy-drama
music & lyrics by Karl Kramer & James Whittle
February 2011
Best Speech Programme Bronze prizewinner (Student Radio Awards 2011)
Broadcast premiere: University Radio York, 25th June 2011
The More Beautiful Game is a radio comedy-drama written, produced and acted by University of York students.
Written by James Bugg
Director: James Bugg and John Wakefield
Producer: John Wakefield
Music & Lyrics: Karl Kramer and James Whittle
Music performed by: Nils Greenhow, Karl Kramer, Nick Tudor, James Whittle
When radio producer John Wakefield asked Karl and I to write a theme song for his latest comedy-drama, drawing on our shared love of Barbershop music, we leapt at the chance to make football puns.
You can listen to the full-length podcast at URY (Flash/HTML 5 required).
Student Radio Awards 2011, judges comments:
• ‘The theme and use of music is inspired and really makes this entry stand out.’
• ‘Music is cleverly different and charming.’
• ‘Really good collaborative programme, with the written material bringing out the effort that’s gone into this – getting music specially composed and recording in different sites. And a great very original concept too.’
• ‘Ambitious, well produced, great use of soundscape, well acted, well written. Excellent.’
Synopsis:
The story of Yorkshireman and world class athlete, Geoff Batterson (played by Chris White) who wants to see his sport in the 2012 London Olympic games. There is a catch though. The sport is table football. Geoff not only faces the challenge of convincing the olympic committee, but must also be wary of rising table football star Kazayuki Takamoto, who threatens Batterson’s place as World Number 1. As the hearing and the table football World Cup final approach, Geoff, along with his best friend Alan (Dan Wood) test their friendship, their nerve and their devotion to the more beautiful game.