The Dark House was a ground breaking interactive radio drama in which the listeners dictated
how the story was heard.
The drama, which was one story told by 3 characters, was adapted for the web.
The Dark House was recorded using a binaural recording technique. Based on the principals of
human hearing, binaural recordings are made by placing microphones near the actor's ears.
Listeners experience spatial 3D sound, immersing the listener in the Dark House.
“The Dark House is a ground breaking interactive radio drama in which you, the listeners,
dictated how the story was heard.”
[Radio Times] “No-one can alter the fate of the three characters in a haunted house in this
interactive drama, but listeners can change how they hear events unfold. ‘The drama will keep
jumping from one character’s point of view to another in response to the audience,’ says co-
producer Izzy Mant. ‘Listeners can ‘phone or text in at any point in the drama, and as many times
as they like, to say which perspective they want to hear next.’
“In effect, the drama has been recorded in three different versions, each one from the point of
view of a different character. With some newly created technology to collate all of the votes and
switch the action every few minutes, the audience will shape its own chilling tale…its impact is
heightened for listeners in stereo by a binaural recording technique which produces a three-
dimensional effect. The entire recording will be available to listeners to produce their individual
versions after the broadcast.”
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September 23, 2003“The Dark House”
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“…No-one can alter the fate of the three characters in a
haunted house in this interactive drama, but listeners can change how
they hear events unfold. ‘The drama will keep jumping from one
character’s point of view to another in response to the audience,’ says co-
producer Izzy Mant. ‘Listeners can ‘phone or text in at any point in the
drama, and as many times as they like, to say which perspective they
want to hear next’…”]
Mike Walker.
Izzy Mant (director), Nick Ryan (sound designer).
Claudie Blakley (Lucy), Alan Ford (Jim), Connie Gurie (Kelly).