Campfire Radio Theater – “The Road Ends at the Sea”
We are proud to announce a new production of a true classic. Back on May 7, 1982—over 40 years ago—CBC radio aired “The Road Ends at the Sea,” an excellent tale by award-winning writer Tim Wynne-Jones.
This story was originally produced for the legendary horror series Nightfall. Today, Campfire Radio Theater brings it back to life with a fresh adaptation, an excellent cast, and the high-quality immersive production listeners have come to expect.
The Story: A Lighthouse on the Edge
“Haunted by lost love, a successful writer revisits college friends manning a remote lighthouse on the Canadian coast, only to find a mysterious harbinger of doom waiting offshore.”
Scully, a writer plagued by memories of a lost love named Nan, travels to Purgatory Point. There, amidst the isolation of the lighthouse and the crashing waves, he confronts not only his past but a black freighter that seems to have sailed out of a nightmare.
This is not a jump-scare horror story; it is a tale of quiet dread, melancholy, and the thin veil between this world and the next.
A Dark Ambient Score
The music for this episode required a delicate touch. Listeners have described the score as “frighteningly and awkwardly beautiful,” praising its ability to shift from serene to deeply unsettling.
Due to the abstract nature of the story, I took a dark ambient approach to the composition. It was an absolute pleasure to immerse myself in the soundscape of the sea, creating textures that mirror the fog and the isolation of the characters.
Listener Response
“The Road Ends at the Sea” has resonated with fans of atmospheric horror.
- “Haunting.”
- “I got completely caught in the atmosphere.”
- “Best of the best. Sublime mixing.”
Warning: Contains explicit language and frightening situations.
Cast and Crew
From the audio play written by Tim Wynne-Jones.
Adapted, directed, and produced by John Ballentine.
Original music score by Kevin Hartnell.
The Cast:
- Graham Rowat as Scully
- Mary Murphy as Nan
- Rish Outfield as Paul
- John Ballentine as Constable One
- Jack Ward as Constable Two
Subscribe and Follow
Visit the official Campfire Radio Theater website.
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