Radio East Gippsland (REG FM)’s new radio serial, There’s No Place Like Home, is now in its second season and continues to enjoy amazing popularity, not only in East Gippsland but internationally.
The series, which is broadcast every Saturday night at 7pm on REG FM, is written and produced by local playwright Will Richards and features a local cast, including members of the REG FM team and members of Bairnsdale’s Production Line Theatre Company.
It’s recorded in Bairnsdale and revolves around life in the fictional Gippsland town of Coochie Creek. Episodes continue to be available for free on REG FM’s website after they have been broadcast.
“We expected the show would be popular, but we didn’t anticipate just how popular,” Will said.
“We are able to monitor online listening figures and in February alone, over 7000 people have listened so far, including many listeners in the United States and the UK.
“Obviously, we’re over the moon about this. It’s hugely exciting.”
Storylines so far have involved a broken toilet, a hippy community in the fictional district of “Y Front”, a food poisoning outbreak at the local show and a chaotic school concert.
Will explained: “The school concert episodes feature some amazing young actors from Bairnsdale’s Upstage Theatre School.
“These kids are incredibly talented and professional and we’re all so grateful that they were involved.
“They give us all a lot of hope for the future.
“We’ve just finished recording season three, which will air in March. All the cast did an amazing job and it was a fantastic atmosphere in the studio.
“Everyone’s excited that we are able to bring East Gippsland to the world. As a result, many overseas listeners will start listening to other shows on REG FM, which is great for everybody.”
As well as the website listeners can also download REG FM’s new app.
“The app’s great. Our tech team have done a brilliant job creating it and anyone can download it for free from their app store,” Will said.
“It means you can listen to REG FM from almost anywhere.”
Will went on to urge everybody who has not done so already to have a listen to There’s No Place Like Home. “It’s a great story and I’m confident you’ll love it and maybe relate to some of the characters,” he said.
“Go to the website or get the app and you can listen to the whole story, from episode one.
“Not only will you be entertained but you’ll be supporting our region. A great thing to do, because when you live in East Gippsland, there really is no place like home.”