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Charity website brings nonprofit soap opera to life

After 60 years of broadcast making it the world’s longest running soap opera (in any medium), there are few people who don’t recognise the jaunty opening notes of The Archers.  Its cheery tones can crack a smile on most faces. Now, voluntary sector resource site KnowHow NonProfit has launched its own sister to The Archers; a novel new animated docudrama about life in the voluntary sector.

Millcaster Tales was initially launched in February 2009 as a series of illustrated text stories hosted by knowhownonprofit.org. The soap opera tells the story of a small town's non profit organisations and the people who work there. Now, thanks to a team of BBC voices, RADA trained actors and the screen writer of the well known police drama “The Bill”, Millcaster Tales has been launched as an animated audio play.  

“Over time, we hope the Millcaster Tales recordings will become known as The Archers for the voluntary sector," said Sahara Quli, CEO of KnowHow NonProfit.  

The Archers actually began as a way of disseminating information about new farming techniques. It was designed not only to entertain, but also to inform farmers and smallholders who worked long hours usually in remote rural locations.

“We think many people will find the problems experienced by the organisations in Millcaster to be rather close to home.”

 

 

“Working in not for profit organisations can be extremely hard work and you don’t always realise that the challenges you face are experienced by others too” explained Tom McHugh, who directed the recording of the first series. “We think many people will find the problems experienced by the organisations in Millcaster to be rather close to home.”

Millcaster Tales already has a well established following of dedicated readers, but through moving to audio, it is hoped it can reach even more people. “I love the audio play” said Smitha Mundasad who is a trustee for the Ranebennur Trust. “I listen to it while I’m doing the washing up! I just wish they’d make them weekly so I didn’t have to wait a whole fortnight!”

Watch and listen the first episode of “Broken Biscuits;” the first episode of Millcaster Tales