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Dirk Maggs

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Dirk Maggs is a freelance writer and director working across all media. He is principally known for his work in radio, where he evolved Radio Drama into 'Audio Movies', a near-visual approach combining scripts, layered sound effects, cinematic music and cutting edge technology (he pioneered the use of Dolby Surround in BBC Radio). He was among the first ever nominees for the Directors Guild Of Great Britain Outstanding Achievement in Radio Award, and in 2005 was invited to become one of the first Honorary Fellows of the University of Winchester for his work in the dramatic arts.

From 2003 to 2005, Maggs produced new episodes of Douglas Adams' science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, adapted from the novels based on the original radio series that Adams wrote. The books that Maggs adapted were written after the radio series ended its original run.

Dirk has directed many leading actors in often award-winning productions, including Rowan Atkinson, Leslie Nielsen, Christian Slater, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Pryce, Robbie Williams, Hugh Laurie, Juliet Stevenson, Jim Broadbent, Patricia Hodge, Alison Steadman, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan.

He recently co-founded Perfectly Normal Productions Ltd (PNP), with Paul Weir and Richard Adams to create compelling high quality popular audio drama in serialised form for delivery to personal digital players and cell phones.

Biography

Adapted from the h2g2 website entry for Dirk:

One of the plans for the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series is that it would sound like a rock album. It was the intention that it would feature lots of music and various sound-processing techniques during the course of telling the story. All this was decided before Douglas Adams actually got around to putting pen to paper and writing the thing.

Dirk Maggs has a similar vision. Though he has produced many radio shows, he specialises in the creation of 'audio movies'. He aims to create radio with the sense of impact and atmosphere available on the big screen. An ambition that has not gone unrewarded, or unawarded for that matter.

These visions are clearly compatible. They must be, as Dirk was Douglas's preferred choice for the job of adapting, producing and directing the last three series concluding The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The programmes (via Above the Title Productions for BBC Radio 4) feature much of the original cast from the first two radio series. The first of these new series, adapted from the novel Life, the Universe and Everything, was The Tertiary Phase, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004, and the latter was a double series adaptation of the final two novels, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and Mostly Harmless, The Quandary Phase and The Quintessential Phase, broadcast back-to-back in 2005.

Comedy Productions

As well as producing episodes of standard radio comedy series such as The News Huddlines, It's Been a Bad Week, and The Russ Abbot Show, Dirk has also been involved in some more unusual comedy projects.

Between 1990 and 1992 he produced three series of Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, an updated version of the original Marx Brothers radio shows. The actors were specifically chosen for their ability to impersonate the Marx Brothers, so that an accurate recreation could be achieved. One of the episodes won the Gold Medal at the New York International Festival.

A similar effort needed to be undertaken for Goon Again in 2001. Produced for the 50th anniversary of The Goon Show, and with the blessing of Spike Milligan, it was a project Dirk had been planning since he recorded At Last The Go On Show, a documentary for the 40th anniversary of the Goons. Early on, Dirk realised that Goon Again would not work without Sir Harry Secombe's very distinctive voice. But Sir Harry declined to take part due to his failing health. Fortunately, his son Andrew Secombe was willing give it a go, and so the cast was arranged around him, with the sons of several other cast members getting involved too, creating, in the words of Dirk, 'a genetically-engineered tribute band' to the Goons. The show won the 2002 Best Comedy Award from the Spoken Word Producers Association (now the Audio Publisher's Association).

Dirk also directed the Johnny Vegas radio series Night Class in 2002. It was a somewhat darker comedy than Dirk's usual output, and therefore shows the range and the variety of comedy material that he is able to handle. This show won the Bronze award in the Comedy category of the 2003 Sony Radio Academy Awards.

Science Fiction Productions

Early in his career Dirk became known for directing adaptations of comic book storylines. He started in 1988 with the 50th Anniversary Man Of Steel docudrama Superman on Trial, carried on with a fiftieth birthday tribute to the Dark Knight: Batman - The Lazarus Syndrome. This was followed by The Adventures Of Superman, Batman: Knightfall, The Amazing Spider-Man and his final BBC Radio superhero series, Judge Dredd in 1995. Along the way his production of Superman - Doomsday and Beyond ("Superman Lives" in the USA) won the 1994 Audie Award for Best Dramatisation from the American Booksellers Association and Spoken Word Audio of The Year from the US Publisher's Weekly. In 2005 Time Warner audiobooks re-released Dirk's Batman: Knightfall and Superman Lives in the USA, prompting a UK re-release by BBC Audiobooks.

For many radio listeners, Dirk's comic adaptations oozed the atmosphere and fun of the original comics in a way that the movies and other audio productions completely failed to do.

In 1996, Dirk was contacted by 20th Century Fox and asked to create a British-based 'parallel-quel' to their summer science fiction blockbuster Independence Day. The resulting programme, Independence Day UK, took place in the same world, and at the same time as the film, but showed a British perspective on the alien invasion. This also won the 1996 Talkie Award for Best Production. The next year, with the blessing of its creator, John Landis, Dirk produced and directed his own adaptation of An American Werewolf in London for BBC Radio One. For this he won the 1997 Talkie Award for Best TV/Film Adaptation.

In 1999 he produced a five-part adaptation of Stephen Baxter's alternative history novel Voyage. The premise is simple. When Apollo 11 reached the moon, JFK (having survived that day in Dallas) set a new target for the space programme: Mars. Voyage is the story of a space-race that never was, but so easily might have been. Dirk's adaptation was presented on BBC Radio 4, and received 1999 Talkie Award for Best Use of Music as well as the 2000 Sony Radio Academy Bronze Award for Best Drama.

Other Productions

Dirk has not worked exclusively in the comedy or science fiction genres, however. He has directed adaptations of several Agatha Christie short stories for Radio Four, and a remake of Bill Naughton's Alfie for the BBC World Service.

Neither is his work to be found solely on the radio. He has directed the sound mixing on three short 3D films that are played in motion simulator capsules. Dirk has also worked on audiotape adaptations of Terry Deary's Horrible Histories books and is audio director for the Animated Mr Bean television series, which means that everything heard in the show has gone through Dirk's hands at some point.

For the feature-length computer animated version of The Magic Roundabout, Dirk voice-directed principal character sessons with such luminaries as Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone and Joanna Lumley.

Dirk's influence has spread to computer games. He is credited as Voice Director on the highly acclaimed adventure game Broken Sword III: The Sleeping Dragon featuring Rolf Saxon and Sarah Crook.

Looking ahead

In late 2005 Dirk is setting up a production company to create compelling high quality popular audio drama in serialised form for delivery to personal digital players and cell phones. Following introductions by Robbie Stamp, Douglas Adams's business partner (and Executive Producer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)), Paul Weir (highly experienced in musical composition, sound design and software development) and Richard Adams (an expert consultant on interactive media) joined forces with Dirk. Their stated intent is to launch a website dedicated to excellence in audio entertainment, Perfectly Normal Productions (the name is a gentle tribute to Douglas Adams). The plan is to produce and distribute innovative and exciting audio productions direct to "the many people who demand something more exciting from their earbuds".

In other areas Dirk is said to be attempting to write a novel for children based on his 1998 BBC Radio 4 'Audio Movie', The Gemini Apes.

Press Comment

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY TERTIARY, QUANDARY & QUINTESSENTIAL PHASES (2004-2005):

“the quality of the acting is razor-sharp, the radio adaptation pinpoint.” CHRIS CAMPLING The Times T2 May 2005

“The radio event of the month... [it] didn’t disappoint at all.” RUTH COWEN Sunday Express May 2005

“There will be those who listen to...this final series and, with Pavlovian predictability, moan that ‘it’s not as good as the first’. Well it is just as good. In fact it’s better.” JANE ANDERSON Radio Times May 2005

“Yes I did bang on about [it] last week, but this episode is really very good.” PHIL DAOUST Guardian G2 May 2005

This BBC Radio production was adapted and directed by Dirk Maggs, who, in our opinion, is the best radio drama writer/director in the world. He’s even better than we are, that’s how amazing he is.” TOM LOPEZ ZBS Broadcasting site, 2005

“Arguably the greatest audio producer working today, Dirk Maggs, formerly with the BBC, continues to produce for the Beeb on a freelance basis. He combines the sensibility of American populist entertainment with state-of-the-art digital production, lush soundscapes and music scores that easily rival anything Hollywood produces. Dirk Maggs truly creates ‘movies for the mind’.” MASTERPIECE GALLERY, CRAZY DOG AUDIO THEATRE.COM, March 2003


ALFIE ELKINS AND HIS LITTLE LIFE (“ALFIE”) 2003:

“ ... re-recorded in a perfect production...” SUSAN JEFFREYS Daily Mail, 18th January 2003

“... this compelling new production starring Nick Moran as Alfie...” STEPHANIE BILLEN The Observer, 19h January 2003


JOHNNY VEGAS’ NIGHT CLASS 2002:

“... The acting is first rate all round, the use of sound is both clever and evocative at once ... as if we were listening to the radio equivalent of cinema verite ...” NICHOLAS LEZARD Independent On Sunday, 1st September 2002


GOON AGAIN - THE 50th ANNIVERSARY GOON SHOW, 2001:

"Against all the odds ... a brilliant tribute to a show that changed the face of radio comedy forever..." JOHN MARTLAND,The Stage And Television Today May 2001

“... brilliant...” Evening Standard HOT TICKETS 25th May 2001

“... atmospheric, affectionate and funny...” PAUL DONOVAN, The Times 29 May 2001


MAN OF SOUP, 2000:

"... fast becoming a worthy successor to Round The Horne, The Goon Show and Monty Pythons Flying Circus" Feedback, BBC Radio 4, 3rd November2000

" .... thank God I caught the repeat ... the funniest thing I've heard on the radio in years" Barry Cryer October 2000


VOYAGE, 1999:

“STAR WARS EAT YOUR HEART OUT ...so realistic, it’s hard to believe it was recorded in a studio... if you close your eyes you may be fooled into thinking the cinema screen is in front of you ... Another undoubted winner for Maggs and BBC Radio Collection.” PHILIPPA MORGAN, Talking Business May/June 1999

“ Dirk Maggs’ production and cast are polished as usual ... will hold your attention right to the end.” GUY HALEY, SFX Magazine July 1999

“... a wonderfully rich ‘widescreen’ soundscape, expertly crafted by director/adapter Dirk Maggs ...” NIGEL ANDREW, Daily Mail, 12 April 1999

“... the superior technical skills of writer/director Dirk Maggs add real atmosphere to this five-part dramatisation ... it is his technical brilliance which brings it to life...” RADIO CHOICE, Mail On Sunday, 11 April 1999

“...Great casting, superb production and an excellent comprehensive music score all in cinematic Dolby Surround Sound. This is right up there with Maggs's usual stunning production values.” Audio Theatre.com Website, Spring 2001


THE GEMINI APES, 1998:

“... Dirk Maggs’ thrill-a-minute scifi drama should lure the kids in from the television ...” LINDA O’CALLAGHAN, Daily Mail WEEKEND, 19 December 1998

“... has teenage appeal ... a fast-moving saga billed as radio’s answer to the Yuletide movie blockbuster.” STEPHANIE BILLEN, The Observer, 20 December 1998

“... a highly crafted sci-fi morality tale ... big, bright, bold, highly original and beautifully done ... it ought to be snatched up at once and made into a movie.” GILLIAN REYNOLDS, Daily Telegraph, 28th December 1998


AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, 1997:

“Like Dirk Maggs’ previous Radio 1 dramatisations, the pace and production values are simply terrific.” KEN GARNER, The Express, 7 April 1997

“The beast was brought triumphantly back to life ... thanks to expert direction from Dirk Maggs ...” STEPHANIE BILLEN, The Observer, 13 April 1997

“The hip language, vivid sound effects, insistent music and Dolby Surround bear witness to Dirk Maggs.” PAUL DONOVAN, Sunday Times 7 April 1997

“... Dirk Maggs adds new twists and grizzly sounds to John Landis’s movie ... Recommended.” RADIO CHOICE, Daily Mail, 7 April 1997


INDEPENDENCE DAY UK, 1996:

“... Dirk Maggs’ brilliant Independence Day UK is Number one (in the Bookseller Spoken Word Chart), having already become one of the very few spoken word recordings to make the regular album charts ...” M.J.SIMPSON, SFX Magazine, Christmas 1996 issue

“...the script's literary quality is very much the hallmark of an original and potent form of radio drama. Dirk Maggs previously created very short episodic 'Audiomovie' style series of early comic strip stories such as 'Judge Dredd', 'Batman' and 'Superman' for Radio One FM and this production was an extension of that genre...” M.A. RADIO COURSE, Goldsmith’s College, University Of London October 1998


PETER PAN, 1995:

“...spoken word is much more than an inferior way of experiencing books. A producer such as Dirk Maggs (Spiderman, Peter Pan) uses surround-sound and special effects as an artist uses a pallete.” CHRISTINA HARDYMENT New Statesman, October 1997


JUDGE DREDD, 1995:

“... listening to Dirk Maggs’ award-winning “audio movies” is like hearing sound in colour or watching a Cinemascope film with your eyes shut ...” CHRISTINA HARDYMENT, The Guardian, January 21st 1995


THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, 1995:

“This is just what you'd hope for from a Marvel Comic Book dramatised for radio. It's a high powered, fast paced, richly produced and wonderfully performed audio movie... Dirk Maggs’ production is infinitely superior to the embarrassingly sluggish Spiderman brought out by Simon & Schuster." Audio Theater.com Website, Spring 2001

“Maggs’ forte is more than marshalling the apt accent: he midwives the whole acoustic of American popular culture onto the airwaves, a rich soundtrack, along with lashings of irony. No wonder people so readily compare radio as a medium with film ...” ANNE KARPF, The Guardian, January 21st 1995

“... Dirk “Mr Genius” Maggs, as Brian May calls him, is Writer Producer Director behind Spider-Man ... Were any Archers fan to tune in, their eyebrows might be raised at the adventure and the ground-breaking effects (and wall-smashing, bomb-exploding effects for that matter)...” NICHOLAS BARBER, Independent on Sunday, 5th February 1995


BATMAN KNIGHTFALL, 1994:

“... Dirk Maggs, who wrote and produced, threw everything into the pot and stirred vigorously. The result was richly textured, highly flavoursome, original and wonderfully energetic ... Maggs struck just the right balance between Gothic horror, gung-ho heroism and camp humour, and maintained it. This sort of speed and density is all too rare in radio ...” NIGEL ANDREW, Daily Telegraph

“... summoned up Gotham’s nocturnal horrors more effectively than the movies...” DAMIAN THOMPSON, Sunday Telegraph


THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, 1990-3:

“Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s sheer quickfire genius in the most sensationally produced comic strip.” RADIO CHOICE, Mail On Sunday,1992


THE MARX BROTHERS’ FLYWHEEL, SHYSTER & FLYWHEEL, 1990-2:

“...for me, the Dirk Maggs version is a flattering improvement...” NAT PERRIN, Creator/Co-writer of the original 1932 Marx Brothers Radio series

Alphabetical list of Dirk Maggs radio productions

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