Blink by Ben Townsley

Blink is a radio play, or a guided meditation gone wrong. You’ll be taken on a journey through the world in-between your ears… Beach Town! Voice, the Mayor of Beach Town, is about to take you on a tour to meet all your neighbours in this world- from the local Miner, to the Mermaid that lives at the bottom of the sea. There’s an abundant amount of whimsical and thoughtful stories to hear...so plug in your headphones, close your eyes and Welcome to Beach Town, buddy!

Blink is written by Ben Townsley and the world premiere was Produced by One Trunk Theatre (I Dream of Diesel, Red Earth) and Walk&Talk Theatre Company (The Ballad of Johnny Boy, The Headliners) October 3rd and 4th, 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic! It was recorded at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, MB on Treaty 1 Land, in front of a small audience set up in tents. It features performances and artistic leadership from Winnipeg’s top artists. 

Artistic Team 

Written by Ben Townsley

Directed by Ray Strachan

Production Design and Audio Mastering by jaymez

Artistically Produced by One Trunk’s Andraea Sartison & Gwendolyn Collins and Walk&Talk’s Tanner Manson

Featuring the vocal performances of these young & fierce artists: 

Duncan Cox, Cuinn Joseph, Kara Joseph, Melissa Langdon, Montana Lehmann, Tanner Manson & Ben Townsley.

Illustration & Graphic Design by Danielle Friesen

Promotional Trailer by Patrick Jordan

Made possible with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council. 

Written by: Gwendolyn Collins

Performed by: Gwendolyn Collins, William Jordan, RobYn Slade, Gordon Tanner, Tobias Hughes

Featuring special musical guest: Joey Landreth

Recorded at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016, rereleased on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Meet Dale Wiebe, a man of no real importance. Back in Wininipeg, living in St. James in his parents basement after the economic downturn in Calgary made him lose his house, wife, job and kids. Things are so bad he can't even deal with the least of his worries: his wicked booter. Will Bay days and a Winnipeg social release him from his funk? Find out on 204 FM Episode #4.

About the series...
In the early 1900s unfortunate and irreversible mistakes bind Hermes, the god of travel, in gold. Now a statue, Hermes is passed from one continent to the next bringing bad luck and a feeling of “stuckness” everywhere he goes. World powers unite and decide the only solution is to send him as far away as possible to a place that no one cares about… a place in the middle of nowhere… Winnipeg, Manitoba. For over a century Hermes has perched atop the Legislature and we call him the golden boy, a statue reeking a feeling a apathy through the city and not letting anyone leave, even after they have passed away. Enter our heroes, regular every day Winnipeggers who feel stuck but are sucked into an adventure exploring the city and meeting an infamous cast of characters (from Stephen Juba to the Grey Nuns and from Nellie McClung to Burton Cummings) who give them a new perspective. A hilarious roller coaster ride through time, winters, socials, mysteries and many vacant floors of the Downtown Bay, 204FM is a uniquely Winnipeg buffet, created by top Winnipeg comedians and theatre artists for the citizens of our one great city.

This project was originally made possible with the support of Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. Thank you to our partners WECC and UMFM. The 2020 re-release is made possible due to the swift response of the Manitoba Arts Council.

Written by: Robyn Slade
Performed by: Gwendolyn Collins, William Jordan, RobYn Slade, Gordon Tanner, Tobias Hughes and Ross McMillan
Featuring special musical guests: Slow Leaves and Carly Dow
Recorded at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg
Tuesday, May 24th, 2016
Our heroes: Dale Wiebe, Boston Earwig, McKenna, Mable and the Autumnal Construction Worker all reunite at the Manitoba Legislature on a mission to free Winnipeg from its curse of stuckness! The stunning conclusion to 204FM.
About the series...
In the early 1900s unfortunate and irreversible mistakes bind Hermes, the god of travel, in gold. Now a statue, Hermes is passed from one continent to the next bringing bad luck and a feeling of “stuckness” everywhere he goes. World powers unite and decide the only solution is to send him as far away as possible to a place that no one cares about… a place in the middle of nowhere… Winnipeg, Manitoba. For over a century Hermes has perched atop the Legislature and we call him the golden boy, a statue reeking a feeling a apathy through the city and not letting anyone leave, even after they have passed away. Enter our heroes, regular every day Winnipeggers who feel stuck but are sucked into an adventure exploring the city and meeting an infamous cast of characters (from Stephen Juba to the Grey Nuns and from Nellie McClung to Burton Cummings) who give them a new perspective. A hilarious roller coaster ride through time, winters, socials, mysteries and many vacant floors of the Downtown Bay, 204FM is a uniquely Winnipeg buffet, created by top Winnipeg comedians and theatre artists for the citizens of our one great city.
This project was made possible with the support of Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. Thank you to our partners WECC and UMFM.

Written by: William Jordan

Performed by: Gwendolyn Collins, William Jordan, RobYn Slade, Gordon Tanner, Tobias Hughes

Featuring special musical guest: Red Moon Road

Recorded at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg in 2016.

Tuesday, May 10th, 2016, Re-released with support of the Manitoba Arts Council Spring 2020.

Meet Mable Ferorkie, everyone's favourite grandmother, and hero of Episode #3. When Mable visits the Manitoba Museum, not everything is as it appears in the diorama... Nellie McClung, Winnie the Pooh, Lord Gordon Gordon, Ken Leishman and Frances Cornish join forces with Mable to set the Nonesuch free once and for all.

About the series...
In the early 1900s unfortunate and irreversible mistakes bind Hermes, the god of travel, in gold. Now a statue, Hermes is passed from one continent to the next bringing bad luck and a feeling of “stuckness” everywhere he goes. World powers unite and decide the only solution is to send him as far away as possible to a place that no one cares about… a place in the middle of nowhere… Winnipeg, Manitoba. For over a century Hermes has perched atop the Legislature and we call him the golden boy, a statue reeking a feeling a apathy through the city and not letting anyone leave, even after they have passed away. Enter our heroes, regular every day Winnipeggers who feel stuck but are sucked into an adventure exploring the city and meeting an infamous cast of characters (from Stephen Juba to the Grey Nuns and from Nellie McClung to Burton Cummings) who give them a new perspective. A hilarious roller coaster ride through time, winters, socials, mysteries and many vacant floors of the Downtown Bay, 204FM is a uniquely Winnipeg buffet, created by top Winnipeg comedians and theatre artists for the citizens of our one great city.

In 2016 this project was made possible with the support of Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. Thank you to our partners WECC and UMFM. The 2020 re-release is made possible by COVID-19 and a swift response by Manitoba Arts Council.

Written by: Ross McMillan

Performed by: Gwendolyn Collins, William Jordan, RobYn Slade, Gordon Tanner, Tobias Hughes

Featuring special musical guest: Leaf Rapids

Recorded at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016

In the early 1900s unfortunate and irreversible mistakes bind Hermes, the god of travel, in gold. Now a statue, Hermes is passed from one continent to the next bringing bad luck and a feeling of “stuckness” everywhere he goes. World powers unite and decide the only solution is to send him as far away as possible to a place that no one cares about… a place in the middle of nowhere… Winnipeg, Manitoba. For over a century Hermes has perched atop the Legislature and we call him the golden boy, a statue reeking a feeling a apathy through the city and not letting anyone leave, even after they have passed away. Enter our heroes, regular every day Winnipeggers who feel stuck but are sucked into an adventure exploring the city and meeting an infamous cast of characters (from Stephen Juba to the Grey Nuns and from Nellie McClung to Burton Cummings) who give them a new perspective. A hilarious roller coaster ride through time, winters, socials, mysteries and many vacant floors of the Downtown Bay, 204FM is a uniquely Winnipeg buffet, created by top Winnipeg comedians and theatre artists for the citizens of our one great city.

This project was made possible with the support of Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. Thank you to our partners WECC and UMFM.

One Trunk Theatre's 204FM Episode # 1- Mr Juba's Wild Ride

Written by: Tobias Hughes

Performed by: Gwendolyn Collins, William Jordan, RobYn Slade, Gordon Tanner, Tobias Hughes

Featuring special musical guest: William Prince

And with: Anna-Laure Koop & Jane Testar

Recorded at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg Tuesday, April 26th, 2016

Stephen Juba, the 37th Mayor of Winnipeg dreamt of modernizing our town with a monorail. When McKenna does Purple City at the Leg she finds herself in another dimension- one where hers, and Juba’s wildest dreams come true. Plus, there are nuns! JUNO award winning William Prince accompanies the first episode of 204FM by Toby Hughes.

About 204FM:
In the early 1900s unfortunate and irreversible mistakes bind Hermes, the god of travel, in gold. Now a statue, Hermes is passed from one continent to the next bringing bad luck and a feeling of “stuckness” everywhere he goes. World powers unite and decide the only solution is to send him as far away as possible to a place that no one cares about… a place in the middle of nowhere… Winnipeg, Manitoba. For over a century Hermes has perched atop the Legislature and we call him the golden boy, a statue reeking a feeling a apathy through the city and not letting anyone leave, even after they have passed away. Enter our heroes, regular every day Winnipeggers who feel stuck but are sucked into an adventure exploring the city and meeting an infamous cast of characters (from Stephen Juba to the Grey Nuns and from Nellie McClung to Burton Cummings) who give them a new perspective. A hilarious roller coaster ride through time, winters, socials, mysteries and many vacant floors of the Downtown Bay, 204FM is a uniquely Winnipeg buffet, created by top Winnipeg comedians and theatre artists for the citizens of our one great city.

The original series in 2016 was made possible with the support of Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. The 2020 rerelease is generally supported by Manitoba Arts Council. Thank you our public funders, and to our partners WECC and UMFM for their support of the project in 2016.