Step into Videogames 2025: Angels in Bristol

Earlier this summer, our master characters coach, Elaine A. Clark, joined us once more to run our annual Step into Video Games masterclass.

Every year we try something different and the only brief is to play and experiment as a group. 

We really enjoy bringing talented actors together ranging in age and experience - there is alchemy in the ensemble and we loved how open everyone was to the process. Little did we know one particular actor had in-depth knowledge of the 1954 Chicken Wars!

Elaine shares her thoughts on the masterclass experience below:

Elaine A. Clark (centre, middle) with BRAVA voice actors. CREDIT: BRAVA

Step into Video Games 2025 was the third time I flew across the pond from San Francisco to Bristol to offer BRAVA students an in-person casting, directing, and recording experience.

Noir meets play: Bristol 1954

Previously, we’d used scripts from a Sci-Fi combat strategy game, but wanting to shake it up a bit, I decided to write an original Film Noir script based in 1954 Bristol. It was fun doing research on the time period and locations. Smuggling at the docks was a problem, food rationing after WWII ended later that year, and there was a scarcity of chickens to eat. [One actor in class informed us that the chicken shortage shifted to over abundance of U.S. imports in the late 1950s, creating a trade dispute known as the “Chicken War.”]

Crafting characters

The class was composed of 9 women and 3 men. Of course there had to be a woman in distress soliciting help from a male detective who’s down on his luck, a clever and efficient female office manager, a few “ladies of the line” with varying skills and status levels, a police dispatcher, narrator, announcer, male and female cop duo, bartender, town drunk, and an assortment of other characters.

From script to soundscape

To keep the story moving and engaging, I wrote a narrative-driven script with an opening cinematic and “cutscenes” that occur at various points in the game to introduce the world, story, and characters. In the spirit of play and experimentation, the only brief set by BRAVA, I also thought that with solid performances, musical segues, proper sound effects, and a linear storyline, the Angels in Bristol recording could also double as a radio drama.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Each actor stepped into their role(s) with truth, honesty, enthusiasm, and creativity. We started with a group read-through, collectively cast each of the character roles, rehearsed the script, and I added some constructive feedback. Then, one at a time, each actor went into the studio to record their series of individual character lines. Much to my delight, minimal direction was needed so the recording process went smoothly.

When I returned to my studio in San Francisco, I mixed the voices, music, and sound effects together. Throughout the experience - from first reading to mastering the final audio - I had a smile on my face hearing my words come to life with everyone’s rich and believable performances. I hope that you agree that it sounds like they’re talking to one another, in a specific location, under various degrees of circumstances and distress.

I encourage you to take a listen here below and be transported to 1954 Bristol, England in the original video game/radio drama - Angels in Bristol.

Respectfully submitted by writer, creator, director, and audio engineer… Elaine A. Clark. Producer, Melissa Thom. Assistant Producer, Tabitha Owens.