As Ireland was hit by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, there were vociferant proclamations over the importance of “washing your hands”.  Or rather washing your hands frequently and properly.  Regardless of its real and unknown place in the measures to prevent the spread of the corona virus, hand-washing  was at least something we could all do. It anyway reasserted the importance of good quality personal hygiene. So it may just be a habit that is here to stay.

We were reminded to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds. In Ireland, it was recommended to sing the rhyme “Happy Birthday to you” twice through.  I would love to know what was suggested as a timer in other countries?  Very soon we learned two things: first that “Happy Birthday to you” gets really really boring when sung twice through, and secondly that 20 seconds is after all rather longer than you thought…

For me, one of the joys of radio & audio drama in other countries has been the discovery of the “short-form” drama. Dramas of less than 7 minutes, a darling of international festivals was almost unheard of here in Ireland, where for example the BBC finds it apparently impossible to timetable in its very fixed schedules. Occasionally this has included the shortest of dramas; just a few seconds. And having learned just how long 20 seconds hand-washing can feel, we have decided this year to explore collaborating on  “micro-dramas”:  dramas to wash your hands to. 

Let’s find out:

• Can we make great drama of exactly 20 seconds?
• How do we make great drama of exactly 20 seconds?
• What are the distinguishing features of great drama of exactly 20 seconds?
• How might we benefit from working collaborative and remotely around the world?

We are proposing that audio creatives anywhere around the world work together remotely to:

• Generate ideas, themes, approaches
• Write one or more micro scripts
• Record the dramas either with our actors in Ireland or your own anywhere in the world
• Edit – individually or collaboratively
• Present the final work at the end of the festival

We will provide: 

• A guided forum for quick growing collaborative partnerships (a bit like dried yeast)
• English speaking actors in home studios ready  to record the work
• A festival presentation of beautiful 20 second audio drama
• The micro-award prize

You need to:

• Sound out your writers, directors, producers 
• Begin to imagine what’s possible

We are also working on a liquid soap dispenser that really will play 20 second audio dramas to hold your attention whilst you wash your hands and will tell you when you can stop.