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About this resource

On this page:  Using this resource  |  Acknowledgements

Radio Drama: Bow Down Shadrach is a drama teaching and learning resource, developed around a radio play Bow Down Shadrach by Miriam Smith, produced by Radio New Zealand, October 2004. The radio play, about three siblings who attempt a daring rescue of their Clydesdale horse Shadrach when he is sold for pet food, was adapted from the novel of the same name by Joy Cowley.

The resource gives information on radio drama and provides teachers with classroom activities to use with students. It includes:

  • background material on radio drama and the production process, writing a radio play, and using voice to portray character
  • interviews with the scriptwriter of the radio play, Miriam Smith, and the producer/director, Kate Orgias
  • related learning activities
  • video clips by Wellington High School students on location during the recording of the radio drama Bow Down Shadrach.

The classroom activities range from full unit plans to individual activities. They have been written with level 6 in mind, but can be adapted for other levels. Look for them under the respective navigation headings of:

Using this resource

Teachers will find these materials and activities valuable both for teaching and learning about radio drama, writing plays for radio, and producing radio drama in a classroom.

For example, teachers may decide to:

  • use the information and activities on radio drama when studying dramatic form
  • adapt the learning activities about script writing and developing character through voice when teaching practical drama in the classroom
  • refer to the interviews and activities on technical production processes in the context of a class production.

Acknowledgments

This resource was written by Lisa Simpson with the generous support of Wayne Widdowson and staff from Radio New Zealand.

Thanks to Penguin NZ for permission to reprint extracts from the book Bow Down Shadrach and to Radio New Zealand for permission to reprint extracts from the radio playscript of Bow Down Shadrach.

Thanks to students of Wellington High School for permission to reproduce their video documentary of interviews with the actors and crew of the Radio New Zealand radio play Bow Down Shadrach.

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