Publicity posters for amateur audio drama Thousands of Years. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Emerging, hot idols

The production of an audio drama, like any mass art form, involves teamwork, but the performers, to use an idiom from the visual discipline, take center stage. It is their voices that form the all-important connection between listeners and dramas.

The term CV, or character voice, was used in Japan to point out which voice performer plays the role of a particular character. It is now used in Chinese online drama circles to refer to voice performers.

Voice performer Zhu Cheng, 28, once thought that only professionals could work in the sector, but his friends told him he had good voice and encouraged him to take part in his first audio drama in 2014.

"I discovered that I could create different characters with my voice," Zhu says. "I could embody the life and destiny of different people."

He uses the pseudonym Chaoroujun (Mr Fried Meat) online and started to voice audio dramas in his free time.

He has voiced more than 100 audio dramas. One of the most popular is Only He Knows. It has been listened to for over 2 million times on Ximalaya FM, a Chinese audio content platform.

"I 'voice' in my spare time on the weekends," Zhu says.

"It's like my hobby."

On stage an actor has to appeal to an audience through body movement, appearance and vocal performance. Obviously, in audio works, the voice is paramount. Body movements are still important to help the actor get into character. Many try but few succeed. One is Li Yang, 27, who is widely-known, not by name, but by sound, in the field.

Li Yang has 1.39 million followers on Sina Weibo with his online name Yangzai (Lamb).

He has been "voicing" for about seven years, has several hundred works under his belt and has carried off a number of impressive roles in audio dramas.

Some famous voices only provide work online and refuse to say anything about their offline life. Li Yang is an exception. He often interacts with his fans through live video streaming and offline activities.

"I love voicing, and my fans have been a great support for me," says Li Yang.

Undergraduate student Zhou Ping, 20, started to voice a couple of years ago when she was enthralled by cartoons. She practiced by imitating leading voice actors.

Zhou and her friend Xiang Shanshan, 20, established a group called Wangtianya (literally "seeing over the horizon") to make audio dramas. Xiang says most members of their group are fresh to this circle, and she wants to provide a platform for them to realize their potential and display their capabilities.