Coming June 6th…
Hello...
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.
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Doctor Who: Back To Earth
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Wednesday 29 April 2015
Doctor Who: Damaged Goods & The Well-Mannered War
Thursday 23 April 2015
The Third Doctor Adventures Volume 1
Before you become convinced that this welcome, yet uncharacteristically sunny weather has fried my brain, time to move on to the actual purpose of this little gem of an update.
Big Finish have announced the September release of the Third Doctor (originally performed on television by Jon Pertwee) 'double bill' of Prisoners of The Lake by Justin Richards and The Havoc of Empires by Andy Lane. Third Doctor adventures are a new direction for Big Finish and Tim Treloar has stepped up to the plate to portray the character in an evocation of Jon Pertwee's original style.
There's much more to come on this box set nearer the time of release; in the meantime, here's some cover artwork from Tom Webster and details of the story I was involved in, Prisoners of The Lake.
Thursday 16 April 2015
Doctor Who: The Well Mannered War
Laid claim to by disputing factions of humans and Chelonians, the planet Barclow has become the catalyst for an unusual war. In two hundred years of hostilities not a shot has been fired, and the opposing combatants are the best of friends.
Russell Bentley Seskwa Hamish Clark Fritchoff John Banks Harmock Elizabeth Rider Galatea
Jessica Claire Liris/Newsreader David Troughton The Black Guardian
Directed by Ken Bentley
Directed by Ken Bentley
It was a fabulous project to work on and I loved my time with the very talented young people Sheila had cast. The standard of performance was incredibly high and I promised the actors that I would rehearse and direct them as I would a professional company. Some of the members of that company did indeed go on to become professionally involved in the industry: Martin Julier appeared in the film version of The Madness of King George, Tom Kerridge is now a well known TV Chef, Cait Davis is currently appearing in Roald Dahl's The Twits at The Royal Court (we briefly toured together in another Everyman production), Kate Mander is a musical performer and Yasmin Bannerman, as I'm sure you know, has appeared in Doctor Who and Torchwood on television. Yasmin has of course also recorded a number of BF stories, including Damaged Goods. Small world; I wonder if she remembers Epsom Downs?
Back in the BF studio next week - can't wait :-)
Friday 10 April 2015
Warhammer
Well, it's been a fun time in the studio and that's about all I'm allowed to say for the time being... sorry.
What I can say, in this all too brief update, is that I've had a great time at The Games Workshop HQ this week, recording some very exciting Warhammer audio drama. I'd love to say more about this, but alas, it's all ultra top secret at the moment. When the time comes however, there'll be lots more posted here and I'm really looking forward to telling you all about it.
To round off then; Simon Guerrier's audio drama series Graceless II is currently being broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra if you fancy tuning in and here's a link to the BBC web page: Graceless Series 2
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:
Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!
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
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