Category: 1Xtra; New Talent
Date: 14.11.2005
Printable version
Â鶹Éç 1Xtra has announced that the station will team up with Â鶹Éç Radio Drama and Â鶹Éç New Talent to launch a new short-form radio drama project - In A Minute - which will be developed in collaboration with Theatre Royal Stratford East (TRSE) for broadcast on 1Xtra over Christmas.
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In A Minute is an interactive project and follows on from Taggerz, the acclaimed interactive animated drama based on the lives of a crew of graffiti artists which was a collaboration between 1Xtra and Â鶹Éç Interactive Drama & Entertainment earlier this year.
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In A Minute will consist of ten one minute drama episodes, created in two batches of five: the first by six young actors (aged 16-20) selected from TRSE's Youth Theatre, the second by 1Xtra listeners.
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The first five radio dramas will be created from workshops involving the actors, with support from writer Debbie Tucker Green at TRSE.
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The five bite-sized dramas will initially be hosted on bbc.co.uk/1xtra for two weeks from Monday 28 November to Friday 9 December.
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1Xtra will then run an online competition inviting listeners to send in their own ideas for one minute dramas which follow on from the first five episodes.
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From the entries, five winners and their scripts will be selected.
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The new scripts will be performed and recorded by the TRSE group to make a second set of five one minute dramas.
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All ten episodes will be made available on the 1Xtra website and broadcast by 1Xtra DJs Jason & Iyare (weekdays, 6.00-9.00am) and repeated on the news show TXU with G Money & Charlene White (weekdays, 2.00-4.00pm) across the week of Monday 19 to Friday 23 December.
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Willber Willberforce, 1Xtra Programmes Editor, said: "'In A Minute will be 1Xtra's first ever collaboration with Â鶹Éç Radio Drama and TRSE.
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"I'm delighted 1Xtra will work with both groups to produce radio drama that will engage our listeners in a new way.
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"After Taggerz it's fantastic to be able to push the envelope further with innovative programming that will reflect the lives of 16 to 25 year olds in the UK today."
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Shabina Aslam, Diversity Director and Producer at Â鶹Éç Radio Drama, added: "This is a very exciting project aimed at making audio drama accessible and engaging to young people through cross-platform media.
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"I am positive that TRSE's young acting talent and 1Xtra listeners will produce some excellent dramas.
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"It will be a creative journey which might develop into a successful pilot and generate further similar ideas, I look forward to finding out."
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Dawn Reid, Associate Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East, added: "We are delighted that young actors from our Youth Theatre will be taking part in such a pioneering project with Â鶹Éç Radio Drama and 1Xtra.
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"We are passionate about giving space to new work and new voices: In A Minute is a natural progression for us and continues our long tradition of making theatre accessible and relevant."
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Notes to Editors
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The TRSE cast will be:
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Dixon Weinor, 20, from Tottenham. This is his first acting experience. Interests include singing and writing poetry;
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Peter Bakare, 16, Canning Town. He is an A Level student and is a member of TRSE's senior youth drama group;
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Stella Odunlami, 17, Stratford, is studying theatre studies at college and is a member of TRSE's senior youth drama group. She wants to pursue a career as an actor;
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Zephryn Taitte, 19, Kennington, is a member of TRSE's young writers programme. He wants to work in film;
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Monique Campbell, 17, Chingford, is an A Level student and member of TRSE's senior youth drama group. She wants to study performance and sign language;
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Yazmin Lacey Phillips, 17, Manor Park, has been with TRSE's youth drama group for seven years. She acts, writes drama and is a final year A Level student.
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Debbie Tucker Green has had plays produced by the Royal Court, Soho and Hampstead Theatres and Â鶹Éç Radio Drama.
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Broadcast Schedule
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Monday 19 to Thursday 22 December -
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Jason & Iyare - 2 x 1 minute episodes broadcast each day across four days, 6.00-9.00am;
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TXU with G Money & Charlene White - 2 x 1 minute episodes repeated, 2.00-4.00pm
each day across four days.
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Friday 23 December
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Jason & Iyare - 10 x 1 minute episodes broadcast in one omnibus, 6.00-9.00am
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TXU with G Money & Charlene White - 10 x 1 minute omnibus repeated, 2.00-4.00pm.
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