Coming June 6th…

Coming June 6th…
The Mercy Chair
"John Banks is one of the UK's most prolific audiobook narrators, working for the likes of Big Finish, Audible, Random House and Games Workshop.

He is a true multi-voice, creating everything from monsters to marauding aliens.

He is also an accomplished stage and TV actor."

audible.co.uk 2018

Hello...

...I'm John Banks - welcome to my website.

The majority of my working life has been spent in the theatre with companies including
York Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman, Sheffield Crucible, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange and the National Theatre in London.

Television work includes Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and 'Allo, Allo!'. I have also worked on a number of radio drama and comedy productions with the BBC.

Since March 2009, I have enjoyed playing a huge variety of characters in more than 270* audio-drama stories with Big Finish Productions, together with The Black Library/Games Workshop, details of which can be found in the postings below.


There are also details listed here of the 214* audio books & stories I've recorded since March 2013,
including the unabridged New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, for companies including audible.co.uk, Hachette, Audible Studios, Podium Audio Publishing, HarperCollins, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Orion, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio.

(*figures at April 2021)

I hope you find something of interest here and come back soon for further updates.


For all posts, reviews and audio samples, please scroll down...

The Runewar Saga: Book 2

The Runewar Saga: Book 2
The Crown of Fire & Fury

The Botanist

The Botanist
Washington Poe Series: Book 5

Skaven Deathmaster

The Babel Books

The Babel Books
The Fall of Babel - click image above for link to audible

Doctor Who: Back To Earth

Throne of Light: Dawn of Fire Book 4

Throne of Light: Dawn of Fire Book 4
Release Date: 13th November 2021

Soul Wars

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Sunday 13 February 2011

February 2011

Halfway through February already, so a bit of a late posting this month. 

Big Finish have released details of The Children of Seth story, recorded last month and which I mentioned in the January posting. The information below is taken from the BF web site:

"Series three of The Lost Stories has moved forward in the schedule, with a trio of Fifth Doctor tales now planned for released in October, November and December 2011. The series will then break for four months, and return in May 2012 with the remaining five stories being released monthly.

The first title to be announced is The Children of Seth by Christopher Bailey, writer of the acclaimed Kinda and Snakedance. In The Children of Seth the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa arrive on a world that is at war with its evil enemy Seth, but anyone who questions the status quo is dispatched summarily to ‘Hell’…

The Children of Seth was recorded mid-January, and director Ken Bentley assembled a world class cast. Guest stars include Honor Blackman (The Avengers, Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids) plays Anahita, David Warner (Titanic, Doctor Who: Dreamland) is Siris, Vernon Dobtcheff (The Spy Who Loved Me , Doctor Who: The War Games) plays Shamur and Adrian Lukis (Pride and Prejudice) is Byzan.

“We knew we had to get the very best for this one,” says David, (producer David Richardson) “because it’s such a wonderful script. And it was beautiful to listen to in studio – I think we have discovered something very special indeed…”


I couldn't resist including an image here of Honor Blackman and saying what a pleasure and 'honour' it was to work with her. 

I've outlined previously, how rewarding an experience it is to work on a Big Finish production; the unfailing pleasure of such work comes as a result of the huge amount of care that goes into every detail, before, during and after the recording process. The production team somehow always manage to engender a relaxed, collaborative and truly creative working environment, which any actor would relish and recognise as an all too rare glimpse of how things should be. In this instance, my particular thanks go to Toby Hrycek-Robinson, David Richardson and uber-director, the Great Ken Bentley. 

   
  The Children of Seth will be released in December 2011.



There are a number of other things I should also mention for this half-elapsed month: 

Firstly, and I should have mentioned this last month, 25 years ago in January 1986, North One Management began trading as an actor's co-operative agency. The company came into being as a result of a bit of 'pub talk' I'd had with a few acting mates, wondering how we could improve our chances of gainful and worthwhile employment. 

The company really started to come together in mid '85 and with the invaluable contribution of a small group of university friends, especially founder members Marc Zakian, Lucinda Smith and Joanne Stoner, by January '86, we were open for business. The name, North One Management, came from a combination of our location at the old Hackney Hospital in Dalston, N1 and the fact that I am from the north, that I am a 'north one'.

All the original members of the co-op have now moved on. Nevertheless, as I'm sure you will appreciate, I'm immensely proud of what we achieved and of the reputation we established. I'm absolutely delighted that the company is still up and running - here's to the next 25 years!

...secondly,

Suzanne Hunter of Brooklands Radio has once again asked for a contribution to her show from my friend Mr. Silke and me. Consequently, we recently recorded five classic love poems for her Valentine's Day special programme, which was broadcast earlier today. 

...and finally:

Lucie Miller and The Feast of Axos are released this month form Big Finish. 

a bientot.

Dalek Universe 2

Kragnos Broken Realms

Age of Sigmar Dominion

The Moggotkin of Nurgle

Kragnos Broken Realms

Dawn of Fire Book 1: Avenging Son

The Lore of Direchasm

Direchasm

A C'tan Shard Rises 3

Indomitus: Necrons 2

A Lord Among the Stars 1

Angels of Death Preview

Ultramarines

Psychic Awakening

Warcry: Death or Glory

Warhammer 40,000

Flight. Redefined.

Reviews & comments:

The Malazan Empire

Over the course of this 8 book series, the amazing John Banks has had to create and voice 648 distinct characters!

Neil Gardner - producer

The Door In The Wall & War of The Worlds

Not often I buy another version of an audiobook I own, but after hearing John Banks' narration of The Door in the Wall by Ladbroke Audio, I had to buy their version of The War of the Worlds. Banks has a great reading voice.

Andy Frankham-Allen - writer

The Books of Babel: Senlin Ascends, Arm of The Sphinx & The Hod King

Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!

Josiah Bancroft - writer

Mervyn Stone: The Axeman Cometh

John Banks is a voice genius...

Nev Fountain - writer

Mervyn Stone... played by the note-perfect John Banks.

Matt Hills - Reviews in Time and Space

Dr. Who: The Sleeping City

I also must draw attention to John Banks who is an exceptional voice artist and in this one story performs more characters that I can count. ... it is listening to episodes like this one that really do let his talents shine through.

Tony Jones - Red Rocket Rising

Highlander:

...playing several parts, was the brilliant Big Finish regular John Banks - it was as if there were about 40 different actors in the other booth.

James Moran - writer

I went for the best of the best and brought in voice artiste extraordinaire John Banks.

Paul Spragg - producer

Vienna:

...also features the mind - bogglingly versatile and reliable John Banks

Jonathan Morris - writer

Dead Funny:

The acting is first rate… wonderfully played by John Banks as Richard – his impersonation of Eric Morecambe is worth the admission money alone.

Beverly Greenberg: Bolton Evening News

Mr. Happiness:

This early and unfamiliar play by David Mamet is a character study of a 1930s radio counsellor, dispensing suave advice to his devoted listeners. John Banks brings out the wry comedy of this – comedy quite unappreciated by the character – with a clever range of gesture and vocal tone.

Jeremy Kingston: The Times


All My Sons:

This is a beautifully crafted piece ...and it affords a wonderful opportunity for John Readman* to do his All-American Boy act as Chris Keller. This most polished and well observed performance as the blighted son of a blighted father must rank as one of his finest accomplishments yet. ( * see Profile)

The Stage

The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes

Kudos should also go to John Banks. Lestrade can be a thankless part, but Banks rose to the challenge, playing a pivotal role in this decades long arc.

Raissa Devereux - SciFiPulse

The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes

John Banks is multi-tasking, both as the superb Lestrade and also the villainous and no doubt moustache twirling Sebastian Moran. They sound completely different and I bow to his talent.

Sue Davies - SFcrowsnest


Further reviews and comments are included with specific postings throughout the site.

The War Doctor

The War Doctor
December 2015