Audio Theatre and New Writing – A Development Pathway

Notes from The Grey Hill with Barry Robertson

Episode 2: Audio Theatre and New Writing – A Development Pathway

New writing has never been more vital to UK theatre — and never been harder to programme. Tight budgets, risk-averse boards, and rising production costs mean artistic development teams are forced to choose between dozens of brilliant scripts, knowing they can only afford to stage a handful.

But what if there was a middle step? A way to commission writers, test new work with real audiences, and gather proof of concept before committing to a full production budget?

In this episode, Barry Robertson explores how audio theatre creates a development pathway that's been missing from theatre for decades — drawing on the legacy of BBC Radio Drama's golden age and adapting it for modern venues.

Drawing on real examples and practical process breakdowns, Barry unpacks:

• Why BBC Radio Drama cuts have left writers without opportunities — and why theatres are the natural successor
• How audio theatre functions as a "pilot" system, similar to television development
• The step-by-step process: from commission to rehearsal, live performance with audience, recording, and digital release
• What writers experience — fair payment, royalty participation, and retained IP rights
• How literary teams, directors, and sound engineers collaborate to create audio drama
• Why this doesn't replace live programming — it extends it and creates additive revenue
• How audio gives independent artists proof of concept for funding applications
• Why you don't need a new digital department to make this work

This episode addresses the practical questions artistic directors, literary managers, and producers are asking: How does this actually work? Who gets paid? What does the writer retain? And how do we make this happen without overhauling our entire organisation?

If you commission or develop new work — and you're navigating the impossible tension between artistic ambition and budget reality — this episode shows you a pathway forward.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Ten Scripts, Three Productions01:40 – The Crisis Facing New Writing04:00 – Theatre as the Natural Successor to BBC Radio Drama08:00 – Audio as a Development Pathway Theatre Never Had11:00 – Proof of Concept: The Gaiety Example13:30 – What This Looks Like in Practice: The Six-Step Process18:00 – Addressing the Jobs Concern20:30 – How Writers Get Paid: Live and Digital Rights23:30 – You Don't Need a Digital Department26:00 – Independent Artists and Proof of Concept27:30 – What's Coming Next: Fair Pay and Future-Proof Contracts

Podcast links:

• The Grey Hill Website
• Barry Robertson LinkedIn

Music by https://www.bensound.com
License code: 0YZPRSAEYDVUNFSE
Artist: Benjamin Tissot