Head of Scripted for Xpression FM, Graham Eveleigh tells us about their exciting plans for new radio drama this year, as well as the return of (the award-winning soap) Union Road!
Year : 3
Course: English
Xpression Presents is a brand new show dedicated to showcasing radio drama! What sort of thing can we look forward to on the airwaves?
All sorts! The great thing about radio is we can do anything. It kicks off with a Halloween drama… set in a place our listeners will recognise. But also this year we have a a sci-fi, a ghost story, a drama to mark the World War One centenary, a Western, a sitcom, an adaptation of a famous work and a political thriller set entirely over breakfast! No idea is off-limits, we want to make a variety of dramas so there will be something for everyone. It’s like making a new movie every week – terrifying but brilliant!
You’re the creator and writer of Union Road! Tell us a little bit about where the idea came from…
Union Road was just crying out to be done really. Some people may pretend to dislike soaps… pretend…. but how can you dislike a show that throws up new, different stories about all sorts of people every week? You’re bound to like one of those stories! It was just a good way to bolster the profile of Xpression Scripted, and obviously we have taken some lead from the wonderful British soaps we have on our screens. It was fun to say, let’s do this for Exeter, the first Exeter-based soap. I was looking for suitable streets, street names we all recognise, streets lots of us walk down most days, and there was Union Road. Then it was just a case of saying, “What is the most entertaining thing that could happen behind each of those doors?”
Do you need to know what happened last year to listen to Union Road this year?
Absolutely not! This year is reset to zero. This is not Series 2, this is a new start for all the characters. Most of the characters are new in episode 1 – we’ve got a big new family who are right at the heart of the show, the Millers, and even old characters have brand new storylines. What happened to our characters last year, people like Mary Stone (her lover ended up in prison!), will have an impact on this year. But it’s about what happens to Mary Stone now, in light of her traumatic previous year, not about getting stuck in the past. The show has been completely rebooted with fresh voices and a fresh new feel.
What do you enjoy most about your role as Head of Scripted? And what has been your biggest challenge so far?
I most enjoy when people send me scripts because it means I don’t have to write them! No, seriously, I most enjoy the end result – something I’m yet to experience this year as everything is in the recording stages still. But once it’s written, made, and then aired… it’s just the best feeling in the world. I still remember walking home after Union Road started last year, bombarded with texts and messages from well-wishers and friends and even strangers.
The biggest challenge so far has been casting all the roles. We had the most amazing crop of actors at auditions, all of whom deserve to be on the radio and I will endeavour to make that happen at some stage this year. But finding the right role for the right voice is surprisingly hard. You have to be tactical about it, and it’s a delicate process. I’m so happy with our casts so far though – the political thriller foursome (Emily Leahy, Ed Cannon, Callum McLean and Helena Jerreat) were stunning, and the Union Road lot are such a strong ensemble.
So when does it all kick off?
Wednesday 29 October at 5pm! At 5.05pm you can hear the chilling Halloween play, Murder at Washington Singer, and at 5.30pm, the premiere of Union Road!
How can you listen in to Xpression Presents?
There are three ways: tune into 87.7FM if on or near campus. You can go to our brand new website at www.xpressionfm.info and hit play, or you can go to iTunes > Radio > College/University and scroll all the way down to XpressionFM!
When you’re not writing, in the studio, in meetings or studying, how do you like to relax?
The only reason that I can cope with this ridiculous amount of work is because, in spite of the moaning, I do really love writing and it is my favourite past-time.
Also, Cheesys.
What are your plans for when you leave Exeter?
Sling all of this stuff onto a CV and hope it gets me a job. If not, I’ll be back to make Union Road Series 3 – try and stop me!