What’s your favourite audio drama?
Listen list!
Listen…there is a list of links to audio dramas recommended by fellow delegates; some are free, some need to be paid for.
Free Links:
Welcome to the Insomnia Town – the Cantonese version. but I loved it so much so I still want to share it here. It's about a writer who has insomnia and one day, he received an invitation to the Insomnia Town, where he began a series of adventure.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPbX1ivjKJuJ_Te55tQG4vyglvYWWXgmV&si=SwajbAg91j6AZsnH
Magnus Archives - horror anthology series.
First episode – Anglerfish - introduces lead character and leaves suspense right until the very end. https://youtu.be/AdiUHYacaRI
Anatomy Class: https://www.podbean.com/ea/dir-c7q6b-1b17565
Don't go gentle into that good night by Michael Sheen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-sM-t1KI_Y or another version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1JJ5actiUM&t=23s
The Effect by Lucy Prebble, starring Jessie Buckley, on BBC Radio 3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09pl824). It's a fantastic bit of writing which leaves you guessing until the end, focused on a clinical trial.
S-Town – not strictly drama, but beautiful narrative descriptions from Brian Reed, on mental health, isolation, and the need for connection in an increasingly disconnected world. https://open.spotify.com/show/1KPTM79Wn9vkWX0UoMYyrd?si=2faaf98e4049424a
Hidden Belfast, Forbidden Love on BBC - the story of gay lives in 1930s Belfast, a time and place when such lives were forced into secrecy,combining emotional intimacy with strong narrative arcs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jnxnt1
A History it Paper by Oliver Emmanuel - non linear story telling structure and unique plot which grips the audience. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HrPuVZLQL8Q
Stone- Sleep Tight by Cath Staincliffe - Murder Mystery, very tense and fast paced. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01cjm4w
A Christmas Carol - https://threeleftfeetuk.bandcamp.com/album/a-christmas-carol-audiobook
Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: the musical drama - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Jeff-Waynes-The-War-of-The-Worlds-The-Musical-Drama-Audiobook/B07JVPGMDC?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
1967 BBC radio play of The War of The Worlds by Jon Manchip White - https://archive.org/details/the-war-of-the-worlds_20230621
The classic 1938 radio play of the book by Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on The Air - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g
The Cipher on BBC Sounds or Moonburn on Spotify - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p090t9cl?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, BBC https://open.spotify.com/episode/3z59f1VuhtLb7NdLYepG7n?si=tOTU_fY7SrqjT8ZTy9ayFQ
Dear Harry Kane BBC Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001f4xs
Bitter Pill - a Radio 4 thriller. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001nprq
Sorry For Your Loss by Joe Venarble https://youtu.be/mYSHsXuICmM?si=QfeMUmoTTVh2Bs07
Behind the Scenes at the Museum - abridged adaptation of a popular 1990s book set in 1950s-90s York. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026n4b/episodes/player.
God of Obsidian - a short series about gaslighting and manipulating loved ones - a terrifying story in a very small scope.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mq86w9IQJ12BmJYw7rXSY?si=0jOFR0g0TS6v0ROyktpISQ
Siân Owen's 'Balls' on BBC Radio 4 - - great atmospheric exploitation of the medium to build the chatter of the women's inner worlds as they struggle with ADHD.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hb6f
Welcome to Night Vale - a radio show https://open.spotify.com/show/0s6Wc5qf8SIvCtKZNC6N7s)
Rooms by Enda Walsh - audio drama in an installation. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/enda-walsh-rooms
Big Finish Productions Doctor Who Audio Dramas. - great production quality, writing and acting that makes it feel like I’m listening to an episode that’s on par with the actual TV show itself, if not better since the format allows them to be more experimental with their stories.
Invaders from Mars starring Paul McGann. https://open.spotify.com/album/7r9wVAXI1X7TW1cONV9Qd6?si=5AxZKbg_Tpmfvyt_-re0qA
Ross Sutherland - Imaginary Advice: Plays with form and is very well sound designed: https://www.imaginaryadvice.com/
The White Vault - horror and thriller. https://spotify.link/QRf3MqHWvXb
Out Loud - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bcmx
Scam hunters on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mWK9vpIL9xYRQhJlWhEAQ
The Archers, BBC Radio 4
Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, narrated by Jeremy Irons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSD8jUbarXs
https://books.apple.com/gb/audiobook/manuscript-found-in-accra/id1442766434
Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - explores the Nigerian-Biafran War through human experiences, showing how politics, privilege, and power affect real lives. It asks big questions about identity, love, and survival, but it never loses sight of the people at the heart of it all. It’s emotional and thought-provoking in equal measure, exactly the kind of story that stays with me long after you finish listening or reading it - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mbq1
This Thing of Darkness, Radio 4 - multiple intriguing stories - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0011tsq?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Cock by Mike Bartlett BBC Radio 3 - https://soundcloud.com/delilahdevinkaufman/bbc-radio-3-presents-mike
Midnight Burger: https://www.weopenatsix.com/
Camp Here & There: https://blue-wolfe.com/camp-here-there/
Sherlock & Co: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yfvdowY1nFCyXRTD5ITqb
The Grimoire Diaries: https://shows.acast.com/the-grimoire-diaries
Gray Matter: https://www.graymatterhorror.com/
Witherburn Afterschool News: https://spotify.link/iYALHx5ExXb
The Black Tapes: https://spotify.link/CHRI5K1ExXb
Pay to Listen:
War Doctor Series - https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-war-doctor-only-the-monstrous-1380.
The Silt Verses - https://www.thesiltverses.com/
Cursed by Femi Oke - about a British-Nigerian nurse involved in a serious criminal case.
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Cursed-Audiobook/B0DFHKV2DQ
The Sandman audiobook. https://www.audible.co.uk/series/The-Sandman-Audiobooks/B09BDGVT2G
Stone, BBC Radio 4 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-The-Complete-Series-1-4/dp/B07B41JZ7L
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/luther-arkwright-heart-of-empire-2529
Torchwood radio drama Deadline on Audible.
Torchwood: Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes #4
Limetown - about this journalist trying to find out what happened to 300 people who disappeared from this research town. Sounds mad but the way they tell it feels so real - like you're listening to an actual investigation. Had me hooked from episode one - https://twoupproductions.com/limetown/podcast
The Best-Laid Plans, Doctor Who drama from Big Finish Productions. The tone was light but still raised intriguing questions, and fit in the Dr Who universe.
Link: https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-short-trips-the-best-laid-plans-2130
Not currently available:
Cabin Pressure (BBC Radio 4)
BBC Radio 4, Craven
The Learners on Radio 4