Power Out on Radio 4
- Alice Watson
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
A short and sweet entry this week about Power Out, a new ten-part drama written by Sarah Woods for BBC Radio 4.
I listened to it in one sitting and was gripped from start to finish.
Power Out is a fast-paced thriller about power and protest that weaves together themes of climate change, animal extinction and gender politics. It follows Sean Hudges (played by Vinnie Heaven), a 16-year old passionate about protecting the planet, who joins an online group of environmental activists to try and bring down the national grid.
It's a decision borne out of frustration: at the government's lack of engagement with pollution, over consumption and species decline; at those in power failing to take global environmental degradation seriously; and at the cards dealt to young people who face a future of student debt, rising rents and few job prospects. With limited options, they take action into their own hands.
The world that Sarah Woods has created is at once strange and alarmingly familiar. There are scenes in the House of Commons, police station, local hospital and childhood bedroom - and there's talk of online chat rooms, Cobra meetings and motorway service stations. But these recognisable sites are countered with bizarre names like AchatinellaApexfulva for the eco-activist group and Xerces blue, a username that nods to an extinct coastal butterfly.
Unsurprisingly, the story feels very timely and 'on the button'. There are overtones of Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg, and the plot weaves in a narrative of progressive identity politics. But it's not preachy or dictatorial. The script is clever, funny and tongue-in-cheek, and the actors do a great job of getting the tone just right.
It's brilliantly produced with an incredible, immersive soundscape. Power Out uses binaural audio, which is recorded using two microphones to create a kind of 3D surround sound effect. It's a must-listen through headphones as you're plunged into the drama and transported to another place. However, you can't hear much else, so I probably wouldn't recommend listening while walking along a busy road!
Episodes vary between 1 and 19 minutes in length, which keeps the story exciting and entertaining and means you can really zip through the action. It's full of dramatic cliff hangers, compelling characters and the final episode is a real audio treat.
If you haven't tuned into any radio drama before, this might just surprise you.
