About
Audio drama
The festival is based in Canterbury, Kent, offering anyone and everyone an opportunity to celebrate radio drama through open access to the live listening sessions in person and online. The Festival is organised by International Arts Partnership
The festval takes place at the Eastbridge Hospital in the centre of Canterbury.
9th Edition 2023
The 9th Edition will combine the best of both worlds. We will be in Canterbury from 27 – 31 March and online for those for whom Canterbury is too far. We welcome visitors from near and far for the full week or for one session. Access is always free though we ask you to book.
The festival aims to bring diverse work from across the world, introducing a UK audience to the European tradition of audio drama often anchored in soundscape whilst celebrating our own more text based tradition. The festival provides a UK audience with the rare pleasure of listening to audio drama in other languages, supported by English language translations of the script. The festival also brings together work from national broadcasters with that of emerging independent producers and is proud that the major prizes have largely been awarded to this exciting but lesser known work.
Awards are made by a jury – membership of which is open to anyone who commits to listening to all the work across the week – and which always includes international producers who have travelled to the festival with their work. An audience award – unique in Europe, decided by popular vote and open to anyone anywhere in the world to vote – complements the jury award and usually goes to work which has not achieved a jury award.
In 2021, we are the first festival to introduce a collaborative creative strand alongside the listening sessions. We awarded a micro drama award for a piece created during the week.
We continue to innovate with the form of the festival to widen its reach and make the most of a world of creative talent. Watch out for this year’s developments
Hear the critical reception
OUTREACH
Alongside the professional festival, an outreach programme takes the opportunity to make radio drama into local schools and community groups, culminating in a Community Showcase on the last Saturday of the festival.
We’ve recently produced a radio drama for People with Dementia and run a pilot for a Young People’s Radio Drama Festival.
SUPPORT US
Find out more about our Partners & Sponsors – and how to support us
LEARN MORE
RESOURCES
Don’t forget to check out our Resources page for all things radio drama
CHECK IT OUT
CONTACT
If there’s anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
GET IN TOUCH
Support
We are supported by the following bodies
