Universal Soldier - Global

In each radio programme, soldiers from Russia and across Africa told their stories about the experience of conflict. Because of the intimate nature of radio, audiences were able to hear them speaking without interruption or mediation. Some programmes offered testimonies from their families, friends, and communities - who described the journeys of these fighters from their own perspectives.

The series aimed to answer questions such as the following: Why do people fight? What is it like to be suffused with adrenaline? What happens if a gun is too heavy to run with? What is it like to kill another person? What do people think and feel after they've fought? How does fighting impact religious or spiritual beliefs?

In Africa, the testimonies were formed into 2 dramas (based in South Africa and Sierra Leone), with the revelations adapted by a team comprising a BBC drama director, local actors, and NGOs working in the field. The dramas were recorded and then performed in front of invited audiences brought together by partner NGOs on the ground who, through facilitated discussion, considered what they had seen and explored together whether the key protagonists had any other choices of action available to them. These discussions were organised and recorded for broadcast.

In the Russian series, stories were told of the war in Chechnya, while in the 2 Africa Live programmes, listeners were able to phone in and add their thoughts and stories to the testimonies. The Trust aimed for this mix of stories to create feelings of empathy within audiences and to increase their understanding of how they, as individuals, can act on their own lives and environments.

Conflict.