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Campfire Radio Theater – “Last Resort”

We are proud to present “Last Resort,” an episode that many listeners have called “phenomenal” and perhaps the strongest entry in the entire Campfire Radio Theater catalog.

This story takes us on a midnight journey into the mind of resident composer Kevin Hartnell, with a script written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine. It is a group effort that pushes the boundaries of audio drama, blending surrealism with visceral horror.

The Story of Last Resort

“In the midst of a surreal dreamlike reality, a broken, flawed man relives the last drunken hours of his life in pursuit of an elusive perfect moment from his past as he hurtles headlong on a collision course with fate.”

The narrative follows Zack Webb, a local at a roadside bar who finds himself drifting through a night that defies explanation. As he encounters strange figures, including an ambulance driver named Ezra and a lost love named Alison, the alcohol-fueled fog begins to lift, revealing a truth he may not be ready to face.

Based on True Events

The concept for “Last Resort” originated from a story outline I shared with John some time ago. As a musician who played his first professional gig in 1978 at the age of twelve, I spent years on the road witnessing the darker side of nightlife.

Trigger Warning: Click here to reveal the real-life tragedy that inspired this story.

The core of this story was inspired by a horrific accident I witnessed while driving home from a gig one night on a remote country road. A van had wrecked, and the windshield was destroyed where someone had been ejected. The memory of the blood on the glass and road, combined with the tragedy of that scene has stuck with me for decades. John did a fantastic job turning those raw memories into a narrative that explores the ghosts we carry with us.

A Tribute to Nightfall

Campfire Radio Theater owes a debt of gratitude to the incredible CBC radio series Nightfall. Both John and I grew up listening to the show in the early 80s, and its influence is heavily felt here.

“Last Resort” has a distinct Nightfall vibe, so for the score, I created several pieces of music as a tribute to Klaus Weiss, whose library music defined the sound of that classic series. If you enjoy the track “Endless Sky” featured in the episode and want to try to sing along like Zack (only sober when driving!), you can stream it separately below.

Listener Response

Listeners have praised “Last Resort” for its cinematic sound design, unforgettable ending, and ensemble performances.

  • “The voice acting, the sound effects, the music — all of them are top Hollywood quality.”
  • “The ending was nightmarish.”
  • “This one tops all of them.”

Warning: Contains explicit language and frightening situations.

Cast and Crew

Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine from a story by Kevin Hartnell.

Original music score by Kevin Hartnell.

The Cast:

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1 likes434 views4 min