Theatre of the Air
Theatre of the Air was an Arts Council funded project which brought together a group of theatre practitioners who had been unable to practise their craft due to the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
Participants collaborated with our staff to create an audio drama based on the folklore of Wiltshire.
The series is centred around an anthropology graduate – Tamsin Wheatley – who is investigating the death of her old university tutor, Professor Henry Kneale, in 2020, after being mailed a collection of cassette tapes from the 1980s. These tapes, including interviews, field notes, and train-of-thought recordings all contribute to the ‘mystery of the week’, as well as the overarching riddle of Kneale’s disappearance. Throughout the series, Wheatley finds herself drawn deeper into a journey of discovery, questioning her own beliefs and knowledge along the way.
The project culminated in the launch of a new audio theatre company, which they also called Theatre of the Air.
“Being involved in this project has made a huge difference to my life as a newly blind woman. It has given me focus, the inspiration to be creative and has allowed me to be more engaged with the community, to feel part of something special and unique. Being disabled can be really isolating but everyone has made me feel so welcome and valued.”
Since our project came to its conclusion in December 2020, Theatre of the Air have gone on to complete Season 1 FOLKLORE and broadcast it on Swindon 105.5 and release it as a podcast on all the usual platforms.
Exciting new audio drama FOLKLORE premieres online and on Swindon 105.5 on Boxing Day
“If you are a fan of The Lovecraft Investigations, The Black Tapes and The White Vault you are going to like this and it easily holds up to the production levels of those as well.”
