The Sounds Behind the Story

Hi Omar, I've just finished helping with a radio story at our local station. You know I used to dream about acting on television. Well, this job was quite different, but I loved it! The story was about a family who found a strange box in their garden. I didn't read any of the words. Instead, I made the sounds that helped listeners imagine each scene. Anna, who works at the station, showed me how to do it. For the rain, I gently shook a small bag of rice. For footsteps, I walked across some old wooden boards. The hardest part was making the sound of a door in the wind. Our real door was too quiet, so we used a chair instead. While the actors were reading, I had to watch Anna carefully. She raised her hand whenever it was time for my next sound. Once, I dropped the rice bag during a quiet conversation. Everyone laughed, and we started that scene again. I've always enjoyed radio stories, but I never thought much about the work behind them. Now I listen more carefully. Simple sounds can make a story feel surprisingly real. The programme is on this Friday at seven. If you're free, listen and tell me what you think. Don't worry if you miss it. It will also be on the station's website. Best wishes, Sophie