On Air - On Site : 48 Hours of Radio Art

Airing on May 23rd 12:00 CEST
UTOPIA More and more
Genre: Radio Drama
Duration: 60 min
UTOPIA More and more is a 60 min audio play inspired by Thomas More’s Text Utopia written in 1516. Fusing old and new text fragments from different historical times and political contexts and contrasting it with a live improvised musical score this interlaced audio piece creates a rich tapestry that plays with perception, form and genre. Utopia has been in our consciousness since the beginning of human history. Where is this elusive land of equality and happiness and how can we enter? UTOPIA More and more invites you on an expedition to the unknown island of Utopia, a search into the past as well as the future. What do Thomas More, Plato, the mysterious radio voice, Robert Owen and the miracle of Wörgl have in common? The listener is invited to wander through a landscape filled with aspiration, dreams, political activism, philosophical dispute, spiritual belief, scepticism and hope. The improvised musical score for UTOPIA More and more was inspired by a long term collaboration between writer and director Gabriele Heller and free improvisers and jazz musicians John Garner, John Pope and Tobias Illingworth (Sarra) all based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Together they experiment with new ways to combine written text and sound collages with an improvised music score by directly responding to the audio piece in an uninterrupted live studio recording.

Featuring:

Gabriele Heller

Gabriele Heller is a writer, director and performer working in audio art, theatre and music. Her work spans from historical adaptation to non linear narratives combining improvised music and soundscapes to explore social, cultural and philosophical concerns within society. Her audio plays have been shortlisted, broadcasted and awarded at various international festival and radio art platforms. Originally form Germany she lives and works in Newcastle since 2001. In 2025 Gabriele initiated and curates RADIOPHONICX a new communal listening event presenting international audio art in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

http://www.gabrieleheller.com/

22-24 May 2026 - 48hours of Radio Art +6