The More Beautiful Game

theme song and incidental music for a radio comedy-drama
music & lyrics composed with Karl Kramer
February 2011

Best Speech Programme Bronze prizewinner (Student Radio Awards 2011)

Opening Credits:

End credits: ‘Oh what a load of – ‘

Broadcast premiere: University Radio York, 25th June 2011

The More Beautiful Game is a comedy-drama written, produced and acted by University Radio York students.

Written by James Bugg
Director: James Bugg and John Wakefield
Producer: John Wakefield
Music & Lyrics: Karl Kramer and James Whittle
(Performers: Nils Greenhow, Karl Kramer, Nick Tudor, James Whittle)

When radio producer John Wakefield asked Karl and I to write a theme song for his latest comedy-drama, we jumped at the chance to be commissioned to make football puns. Drawing on our love of Barbershop music, Karl and I wrote the words and music collaboratively.

You can listen to the full drama podcast on the URY website (Flash/HTML 5 required).

Student Radio Awards 2011, judges comments:
‘The theme and use of music is inspired and really makes this entry stand out.’
‘Music is cleverly different and charming.’
‘Really good collaborative programme, with the written material bringing out the effort that’s gone into this – getting music specially composed and recording in different sites. And a great very original concept too.’
‘Ambitious, well produced, great use of soundscape, well acted, well written. Excellent.’