Final Episode of The Wandsworth Way Concludes London’s Most Ambitious Radio Drama
The final episode of The Wandsworth Way will air today on Riverside Radio, marking the conclusion of a year‑long project in community storytelling.
Created for Wandsworth Council’s London Borough of Culture year and developed in partnership with Theatre503, the series brought together professional craft and local voices in a way rarely attempted in UK radio drama.
Across the year, 31 writers and 84 community actors aged 14-80 took part, most with no previous experience. Under the guidance of Chief Writer James Fritz, Lead Director Pam Fraser Solomon, Hon. D.Litt., MA, BA. and Sound Designer Farokh Soltani, participants learned the fundamentals of writing, performance and audio production while shaping a story rooted in the borough.
Lesley Strachan BSc (Hons) Linguistics MBA, Co‑Producer at Riverside Radio, said: “This has been a huge learning curve for everyone. A true collaboration between a theatre, a community radio station and the local authority. The scale of participation has been extraordinary, and the final episode is a celebration of what local people can create when they’re given the tools and support."
Jason Rosam, Managing Director at Riverside Radio, said: “It was nothing like we thought it was going to be. No-one in any Borough of Culture has done this type of thing before and we're really thrilled with it.” James Fritz, Chief Writer, said: “I am incredibly proud to have played a small part in such an ambitious, wide‑reaching, good‑hearted project, and to have worked with so many brilliant writers across the year. 31 brand new writing credits is, frankly, an astonishing achievement in a time when new opportunities are thin on the ground.”
Pam Fraser Solomon, Hon. D.Litt., MA, BA., Lead Director, said: “This soap reflects the richness, vitality and diversity of Wandsworth. In the casting, the writing, and the performances themselves. I am so proud to be part of this diverse group of people working together on a shared project.”
Farokh Soltani, Sound Designer, said: “It has been one of the greatest experiences of my professional life; to be part of a project with so many people creating a world.”
Emily Carewe, Executive Director & Co- CEO of Theatre503 said: “The Wandsworth Way embodies what Theatre503 exists to do: to champion debut writers and give emerging voices the chance to create ambitious, meaningful work."
Launched live at the Summer in Battersea Park Borough of Culture Day by Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Kemi Akinola, The Wandsworth Way has become a cultural thread running through the entire year. As the project concludes, Riverside Radio hope the experience has shaped a new model for community audio drama - one they plan to refine through shorter, focused projects that build on the skills and partnerships formed.
The final episode of The Wandsworth Way airs today, Sunday 29th March at 5pm on Riverside Radio.