About Soundstart

BBC Audio Drama runs two annual acting talent initiatives: the BBC Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award (running since 1953) and the BBC Norman Beaton Fellowship (running since 2002).

Together these two audio acting awards are celebrated under the umbrella title of Soundstart.

Via these two bursaries, BBC Audio welcomes new actors each year to five-month contracts with the Radio Drama Company.

As well as work undertaken via the two acting events, Soundstart initiatives include:

• Actor workshops for freelance engagements
• Actor workshops for membership of the Radio Drama Company