The Last Broadcast [Review]

One of the best things I've ever heard.

I don't often do reviews but I feel the need to share this and promote it as much as possible.

It's an amateur radio play called 'The Last Broadcast' and it's on the YouTube channel known as '1RadicalOne'. It was done by a family member of his for a school media project but, either way, it's one of the best constructed things I've ever come across. Here's my synopsis for the play.

'Toronto, 1984. Radio station CKND broadcasts its normal music programme while news comes through of a Soviet incursion into West Germany. As the situation escalates, the station tries to bring the latest news while also trying to keep the country calm. But how can you remain calm when the news is so distressing?'

I first came across this in the summer, purely by accident. I was looking for another video when I saw this particular suggestion and decided to watch it. Albeit with the intention of listening to part of it to test it and take it from there. However, I was instantly hooked.

The play is presented as an actual radio station in real time. So it feels like everything's happening at once. It's all dialogue in some regard and it's presented like a normal 1980s radio station set in Canada. Starting off with Chubby Checker's 'Let's Twist Again' and continuing on the music format until the distressing news of the Soviet invasion comes through, the play also includes news reports, adverts for real places and news reports as they happen.

But, here's a list of what I personally love about the piece.

• The main body of the story doesn't start straight away. It's about 10 minutes or so before the news of the Soviet invasion comes through which means you get a little bit of normality before the station becomes completely obsessed with the unfolding horror in Europe.

• The attention to detail of the adverts. There are adverts for real companies in the play such as a museum in Toronto and Burger King. Not only are they actually using real places, they're making it sound truly like the 80s. With the horrendous synthesisers, cheesy acting and hyper-capitalism, it sounds amazingly genuine.

• When the story does take over, the emotional reaction from the presenter, Bob Henderson, is fantastic. Given what happens in the hour or so that the story takes up, Henderson's reactions are completely natural and justified. Without spoiling anything major, when news comes through of a particular nuclear strike against a certain city, he stops broadcasting for a moment in order to process what just happened.

• The attention to historical context. In 1984, the President was Ronald Reagan, the Canadian Prime Minister was Pierre Trudeau (father of the current PM Justin Trudeau), the British Prime Minister was Margaret Thatcher and the President of the USSR was Yuri Andropov. All but Thatcher in the play are mentioned by name and, at one stage, a press conference held by an advisor to Trudeau can be heard a number of times. Not only this, the news goes off topic for a moment and discusses the Israeli occupation of Lebanon which ended in 2000 as well as other local news items. The play also mentions that the German city of Bonn is the capital of West Germany. Something I didn't know until I heard it for the first time.

• The emergency broadcast system of Canada. I haven't personally heard the emergency broadcast system of Canada but the one they put in the play would be a good one to go by. Not only is the information given on it accurate, it's also very sinister. Which, let's face it, anyone hearing it would find it. 

• The feel of the news reports. Given what's going on, the play involves different correspondents in different locations. Examples of locations include London, Dusseldorf and Washington DC. But all of these news reports are well constructed as well. You do kind of get immersed in the pseudo-journalism that you're hearing.

It's an inspired story and it's well produced. The only issue I have with it its slightly grainy audio quality but, given I wasn't alive in Canada during the 1980s, I'm assuming it's that grainy for a reason.

If you quite like this kind of thing and have a spare hour and 15 minutes then I totally suggest listening to it because it is really good. The alternate history feel of it is fantastic and its real-time pace is even better as you can get completely caught up in it. If you have an interest in Nuclear Politics and fast-paced diplomacy too then it really is for you. 

If you do listen to it, I hope you enjoy it. It's not for the faint hearted or easily anxious but, just remember, it's an a story set in an alternate universe.

The fact that this could be mistaken for a broadcast from a parallel universe is by the by!

Enjoy!