Industry Insider – How to make a successful audio drama 2026

If you love the escape of listening to audio drama, the freedom of writing audio drama, or you just want to find out more about the medium, join industry experts as we unpick what makes a truly great audio play hosted by SoA Scriptwriters (SWG) Committee Member Robin Mukherjee. 

Panellists include fellow SWG committee member James Clarke; this year’s Imison Award winner, Sylvia Anne Parker; Imison Award shortlistee Sherise Blackman; and Tinniswood Award shortlistee James Fritz.

This event is in conjunction with our Scriptwriters Group (SWG).

What will this session cover?

• Intro to the panel
• What made each panellist fall in love with audio drama?
• The importance and impact of scripting for audio; sound design; actingand direction 
• What the panel would like to hear more of, in audio drama?
• What makes the medium unique?
• Advice for aspiring audio drama writers…
• Where to find great audio drama!

#SoAatHome Industry Insider events – free for all + donation

All donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking, please do so when registering for the event below.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Robin Mukherjee (3 mins)
• Panel discussion chaired by Robin Mukherjee, with James Clarke, Sylvia-Anne Parker, Sherise Blackman and James Fritz (40 mins)
• Q&A with audience (15 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Sophia A Jackson – Head of Events & Engagement, SoA

The Line-up

Robin Mukherjee

Robin Mukherjee has contributed extensively to television drama, both returning series (EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, etc) and serials (including Grushko with Brian Cox and Andy Serkis, and Plastic Man with John Thaw and Frances Barber). He has also written for radio and theatre. His first feature film, Dance of the Wind, won the Audience Prize at the London Film Festival. His most recent film, Lore, was critically acclaimed worldwide, winning Best Adapted Screenplay at the Australian Writers Guild Awards, the Public Prize at Locarno, and many others. It was Australia’s official entry to the Oscars.

His original three-part serial, Combat Kids, for CBBC/BBC1 was nominated for a BAFTA. Recent work includes Hetty Feather for CBBC, and a feature film adaptation of Satish Kumar’s memoir No Destination. His current projects include an adaptation of Paul Scott’s (Booker Prize winning) novel Staying On supported by the BFI, and a feature film, Petrichor, also supported by the BFI, co-written with BAFTA winning director Esther May Campbell. His book, The Art of Screenplays – A Writer’s Guide, is published by Kamera Press, and his novel, Hillstation, by Oldcastle Books. He is Course Director of MA Scriptwriting at Bath Spa University.

Website: https://robinmukherjee.com/

James Clarke

James Clarke is a writer and educator with a focus on cinema and literature. James was educated at the University of Warwick and at the University of Bristol. James has taught on the MA Screenwriting course at London Film School and is a guest tutor at Falmouth University. He has also worked as a Script Reader for the British Film Institute. Currently, James is developing a feature film screenplay with a UK-based production company and is also writing a new book about filmmaking.

Instagram: @jameswriter72

Sylvia-Anne Parker

Sylvia-Anne Parker’s writing journey has taken her from script supervisor to directors including Danny Boyle, Cary Fukunaga, Yorgos Lanthimos and Clio Barnard to winning the 2026 Imison Award. She enjoys fusing fact with fiction to create stories featuring characters who despite being up against the system manage to survive.

Sherise Blackman

Sherise Blackman is a multi-hyphenate actor, writer, and producer with a sharp, fearless voice. She is the creator and lead writer on Audible Original scripted comedy series Do Not Disturb where she also stars as the lead character ‘Saffron’. Her writer credits include staff writer on Sky’s Dreamland (S2) and writers’ assistant on Netflix/Shondaland’s Bridgerton (S2). Sherise is a dynamic creative with a passion for bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and storytelling that resonates. 

Instagram: @iamsheblackman

James Fritz

James Fritz is a writer from South London. Recently he has created and written three series of the award-winning audio drama Life and Time for BBC Radio 4.

His other plays for audio includes Comment is Free, Death of A Cosmonaut, Eight Point Nine Nine, Dear Harry Kane, The Test Batter Can’t Breathe (all BBC Radio 4) and Skyscraper Lullaby, which he also directed (Audible).  James’ audio work has won several major awards including four BBC Audio Drama Awards, three ARIAs and The Prix Europa for Best European Drama. His plays for stage include The Flea, Parliament Square, Ross & Rachel and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds.

Instagram: @jamestfritz

About the Scriptwriters Group (SWG)

The Scriptwriters Group (SWG) is a community of scriptwriters and broadcasters. It represents writers and makers across digital, broadcast, AV and theatre.

We support members and associates by providing professional, individual advice, negotiating collective minimum terms agreements with organisations such the BBC, and lobby on policy and legislation to promote the interests and protect the rights of scriptwriters.

In addition, we manage a series of seminars, panel discussions and ‘in conversation’ style events throughout the year, on matters of concern and interest to members working across these industry sectors. We also publish interviews and develop resources for publication on the SoA website and via our quarterly journal, The Author.

The Group is made up of an elected committee and the Group Chair is Rhiannon Tise. Whilst the committee directs the work of the group, the day-to-day administration is handled by Co-Administrators Sophia Jackson and Theo Jones. Contact either Sophia or Theo with any scriptwriting-related topics, concerns or suggestions that you might wish to raise with the committee.

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email SJackson@societyofauthors.org with ‘How to make a successful audio drama’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Booking

Please either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund.