Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
Station of the Year
NZ Radio Awards 2009
20 March, 2010
Listen live or
listen again here
Students' Shorts (emerging writers)
Each year the Radio NZ drama department runs a series of writing-for-radio drama workshops throughout New Zealand. Most of these workshops are through the creative writing departments of tertiary institutions.
As an extension to the writing workshops the student participants are invited to submit a 15-minute radio drama script to the Student Shorts competition. The drama department assesses the entries and, depending on the number available in any one year, chooses between three and six scripts for development and production.
A number of student writers have gone on the receive commissions for full-length radio dramas.
Taking the Bait by Ness Simons
A Student Shorts winner 2009.
Ness Simons completed a BA in Applied Arts (Creative Writing) from Whitireia Polytechnic in 2009 and is looking forward to continuing her writing journey. She is a Wellington based writer.
- Taking The Bait
- Nico takes off to go fishing with an old friend of his dads. However his mum and grandfather don’t know he’s gone and he’s due in court today. Then the police arrive looking for him and they discover he’s gone. When his mother and grandfather finally find Nico the old man hatches a plan that’ll stop the police of the gangs ever finding him again. (duration: 12′07″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Kerehi Paurini, Peter Hayden, Jodie Rimmer, Lawrence Wharerau, Nathan Meister.
Producer: Jason Te Kare
Engineer: Phil Benge
Bridge to Portobello by Gwyneth Hyndman
Gwyneth Hyndman graduated from the University of Otago with an anthropology degree in 2001 and has a background in journalism. She now lives in the South Island where she is working as a hiking guide. Gwyneth completed a Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University in 2009.
‘Bridge to Portobello’ is her first for play for radio.
- Bridge to Portobello
- Daniel and Simon are close friends. They’ve both finished their law degrees in Dunedin and make a bet they’ll be hot shot lawyers by the time they’re 30. But Simon’s mental health means he’s not going to win. Instead he opts to take the fantasy Bridge to Portobello. (duration: 19′22″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Aaron Alexander, Hadleigh Walker, Madeline McNamara, Tansy Hayden
Producer: Prue Langbein
Engineer: Phil Benge
Skin Deep by Ole Maiava
Ole Maiava is a member of the Banana Boat Writers Group and is also an independent film maker, actor, broadcaster, musician, published poet and short story writer.
- Skin Deep
- Student Short (duration: 14′47″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Shadon Meredith, Natano Keni, Asalemo Tofete, Moana Ete, Lyndee Jane Rutherford
Producer: Jason Te Kare
Engineer: Phil Benge
Where's Wiki's House Gone Dad? by Rob Tuwhare
Rob Tuwhare is an Auckland based writer and a member of Te Arapiki maori writers group.
- Where's Wiki's House Gone Dad by Rob Tuwhare
- Set against a backdrop of the 1953 Royal Tour coupled with the Tangiwai Disaster. This story is about a boy in a small rural community who is worried about what will become of his friend Wiki, whose house is condemned for demolition as it is run down and the royal party’s itinerary will take them right past it. (duration: 15′19″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: John Wraight, Nikki MacDonnell, Amelia Reid, Jed Brophy, Hewitt Humphrey
Producer: Duncan Smith
Engineer: Phil Benge
Guitar Lessons by Richard Finn
Richard Finn graduated from The New Zealand Drama School on 1986 after completing a BA and a Diploma in Drama at Auckland University. While at NZDS he was invited to guest direct at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. He then spent the next seven years there as Associate Director where he directed and designed over forty productions. In 1993 he and Keryn Stone created The New Zealand College of Performing Arts where he is the Artistic Director. 2009 saw him doing a Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University.
Guitar Lessons is his first for play for radio.
- Guitar Lessons by Richard Finn
- Sixteen year old Guy starts taking guitar lessons motivated by his feelings the attractive teacher Ms Belle. He soon discovers that there are fringe benefits to being seen as the ‘cool guy’ playing the guitar at parties. Guy hooks up with a girl and falls out with his mate. A portrait of life, love and mateship from a sixteen year old male’s point of view. (duration: 15′48″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: James Kups, Liz Kirkman
Producer: Duncan Smith
Engineer: Phil Benge
Crazy in Love
A Student Shorts winner 2009.
Ness Simons completed a BA in Applied Arts (Creative Writing) from Whitireia Polytechnic in 2009 and is looking forward to continuing her writing journey. She is a Wellington based writer.
- Crazy in Love
- Lovers, Tali and Ros have broken up. But the breakup has been anything but amicable. One of them has ended up in a mental institution. But which one? And who put here there? Set in the café scene in Wellington this is a tale of jilted love and pet-based revenge. (duration: 17′05″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Kate Prior, Ban Abdul, Amy Tarleton, Emily Regtien, James Kupa
Producer: Adam Macaulay
Engineer: Phil Benge
Withdrawal
Kate grew up in the South Island of New Zealand, but now resides in the country’s capital, Wellington, a place where umbrellas become weapons and a little earthquake now and then is commonplace. She is a 3x NZ Young Playwright winner, was voted “Favourite New Writer” at the Gibson Awards (NZ Comic Book Awards) in 2006, holds a BA(Hons) in Film and Media, and a MA in Scriptwriting from the prestigious International Institute of Modern Letters.
None of her writing has featured any sheep… yet.
- Withdrawal by Kate Morris
- RNZ (duration: 12′07″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Rachel Foreman, Martyn Wood, Byron Coll, Ahi Karunaharan
Producer: Prue Langbein
Engineer: Phil Benge
O le Samaria
Since graduating from South Seas Film and Television School in 2002, D F Mamea has worked on film and television projects, most happily as a screenwriter, but also in directing, editing and/or producing roles as and when circumstances (ie., budget) have dictated. That's how he rolls. He has a blog where he shares his screenwriting (and reluctant multihyphenating) life: 'Indelible Freckles'.
- O le Samaria by David Mamea
- The parable of the Good Samaritan in Samoa. Taro thief Afa, is staked out in the hot sun begging for his guards, Apelu and Siu, to let him go. Locals, hearing the news, come by the clearing to see for themselves. (Student Shorts 2008) (duration: 11′27″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Jerome Leota, Sopa Enari, Shadon Meredith, Rob Lloyd, Nantano Keni, Eteuati Ete
Producer: Jason Te Kare
Engineer: Phil Benge
Animal Planet
Martha Hardy-Ward has a MA in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University. She received the Michael Hirschfeld Scholarship for her Masters thesis in December 2008. She was also a winner of Playmarket's 2008 New Zealand Young Playwright's Competition for her play Silent Night. Martha has been an intern at the New Zealand Film Commission and is currently an intern at Playmarket.
- Animal Planet by Martha Hardy-Ward
- Otto, a young boy, has retreated into an imaginary world where he imagines himself to be an animal. His retreat has been caused by grief over the death of his brother. (Student Shorts 2008) (duration: 16′55″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Amy Tarleton, Jed Brophy, Sadwyn Brophy, Justin Gregory, Prue Langbein, Adam Macaulay
Producer: Adam Macaulay
Engineer: Phil Benge
Cheerios and Icecream
Sarah Boddy graduated from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in 1994, worked as an actor on stage and on TV and then left for overseas. After a few years traveling Sarah settled in Mexico. Two babies later she returned home, did an MA in Creative Writing at Victoria University, built a house and started writing. Currently she is working as a documentary researcher and plotting a novel.
- Cheerios and Icecream by Sarah Boddy
- A woman, her daughter and the family dog head for Auckland late at night to escape a troubled marriage. At a petrol station they pick up Neil who makes the woman rethink her decision. (Student Shorts 2007) (duration: 17′31″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Helen Jones, Nigel Collins, Nina Smith
Producer: Adam Macaulay
Engineer: Phil Benge
Leone
- Leone by Tusi Tamasese
- Leone uses all her knowledge of traditional medicine to try and cure her son’s leprosy before the missionaries discover him and take him away. (Student Shorts 2007) (duration: 17′09″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Fiona Truelove, Jerome Leota, Sopa Enari, Shadon Meredith, Moera Tuilaepa, Mosese Ah Hi
Producer: Jason Te Kare
Engineer: Phil Benge
Invisible to the Naked Eye
Hannah McKie is a young emerging playwright with a background in acting and design. Hannah has a BA in Theatre and Film from Victoria University and has recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters. (photo by Shane Stever)
- Invisible to the Naked Eye by Hannah McKie
- A futuristic mystery set on an island off the coast of New Zealand. The Monks and other residents of the Island are being removed to the mainland by the authorities following the discovery of an unusual viral infection. (Student Shorts 2008) (duration: 17′25″)
- Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3
Cast: Mel Dodge, Paul Harrop, Asher Smith, Eddie Campbell Nathan Meister
Producer: Duncan Smith
Engineer: Phil Benge
Drama home page
About us
The Drama Department commissions new writing and seeks to work with New Zealand’s best writers. Each year, up to 30 hours of new drama and comedy more than 200 readings (one-off short stories and serialised book readings), and over 50 new children's stories are produced.
email: DramaInfo@radionz.co.nz
Latest newsletters
DRAMA_STUFF_24_February_2010.pdf
Drama_Stuff_23_December_2009.pdf
Purchasing audio
A number of dramas and book readings are available for purchase through Replay Radio.
(Please note that not all audio is available due to copyright restrictions.)
Secondary Navigation and Search
Search
Section Menu
