"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 Crown of Fire & Fury
The Botanist
Washington Poe Series: Book 5
Skaven Deathmaster
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
Release Date: 13th November 2021
Soul Wars
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And so. The second of today's audio releases; an audiobook that I mentioned originally, although not by name, in the 20th November posting. Here are some details:
Penguin presents:
the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Assassin's Creed: The Official Film Tie-In
by Christie Golden, read by John Banks.
The official film tie-in to the Assassin's Creed motion picture starring Michael Fassbender.
"We work in the dark to serve the light. We are assassins."
Through
a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum
Lynch experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th
century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret
society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to
take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present
day.
I must thank Producer Neil Gardner and the production team at Penguin Random House Audiobooks for getting me in to record this audio book, which was great fun to do, even though our recording scedule was incredibly tight. I can only hope that their faith in me has been justified and I look forward to hearing the finished production with fingers firmly crossed!
And so, onto the sixth release of mine this month from those festive folk at Games Workshop. Here are some details of the audio drama, The Art of Provocation:
The Art of Provocation
A Space Wolves audio drama
Lukas the Trickster plays a dangerous game. With hordes of orks massing
on Polix Tertius, he risks the ire of Wolf Lord Kjarl Grimblood, as well
as the blades of his xenos foes…
Amongst the Space Wolves, the name of Lukas the Trickster is as much a
curse as anything in the old tongues of Fenris. Named Jackalwolf by his
masters, none of whom wish his dubious fealty, he now plays a dangerous
game with the hordes of orks massing on Polix Tertius.
Risking the ire
of Wolf Lord Kjarl Grimblood, as well as the blades of his xenos foes,
he turns his attentions to the planetary vox-communications network, and
begins to broadcast...
John Banks, Jonathan Keeble and Toby Longworth
Written by Josh Reynolds & Produced by Matt Renshaw
Plethora indeed! December has been an incredible end to an incredible year of audio releases, 8 so far this month, with more to come - and 59 so far this year. Needless to say, I'm way behind in listening to all of this stuff (I'm still listening to Bleeding Heart Square!) and with all that's going on, I don't look like catching up any time soon.
The pace has calmed a little as the Christmas holiday gets ever closer, although, I have been recording this month and I'm off to Games Workshop HQ tomorrow for more work next week, which I'm really looking forward to. Next year is beginning to take shape and there are a couple of exciting projects I'm already keenly anticipating. But all that is to come, what about now???
Since the release earlier this month of The Calculus of Battle, here are details of the 'plethora' of subsequent releases:
Doctor Who: The Sontarans
The TARDIS arrives on a moon-sized asteroid orbiting two gas giants.
With an amazing view, it’s a chance for the Doctor, Steven and Sara to
unwind after their recent adventures.
But they quickly find themselves in the midst of battle - on one
side: a familiar group of space-suited soldiers - members of the Space
Security Service. On the other: strange, squat aliens in body armour.
Surviving the initial hostilities, the Doctor and his friends
discover that the SSS squad is on a terrifying mission. With many lives
at stake, they have to venture deep inside the asteroid in search of a
hideous weapon. But who can they trust in the battle against these
Sontarans?
Peter Purves Steven - The Doctor - Narrator Jean Marsh Sara Kingdom
Dan Starkey Corporal Ellis - Slite - Shrok - Stack - Commander Jemma Churchill Captain Papas John Banks Corporal Gage Rosanna Miles Tinder - Human Soldier
Written by Simon Guerrier
Directed by Ken Bentley
* * * * *
Valerius
A Horus Heresy audio drama
Sent by Corax to the great slaughter at Beta-Garmon, Marcus Valerius
fears the end is nigh. Guided by visions from the God-Emperor, can he
lead the Therion Cohort back to victory?
Though he knows such beliefs are forbidden, Vice-Caesari Marcus Valerius
of the Therion Cohort is willing to lay down his life in service to the
immortal God-Emperor, for the good of all mankind.
Sent by Corax to the
great slaughter at Beta-Garmon, every last one of the Imperial Army
soldiers under his command knows that the end is nigh - but can
Valerius' holy visions guide them to one final victory over the hordes
of the hated Arch-traitor?
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Saul Reichlin,
Toby Longworth and Luis Soto
Written by Gav Thorpe & Produced by Matt Renshaw
* * * * *
The Embrace of Pain
A Lucius the Eternal audio drama
Lucius the Eternal is openly challenged by a champion of the old
Death Guard Legion. Could an immortal daemonhost, blessed by Nurgle, be
the undoing of the blademaster’s curse?
While voyaging through the depths of the warp, the infamous blademaster
Lucius the Eternal is challenged by a servant of another god - a
champion of the old Death Guard Legion, no less.
Keen to remain dominant
over his preening and ambitious rivals in the Cohors Nasicae, Lucius
takes up his sword without a second thought... but could an unfeeling
daemonhost of Nurgle, or the voices inside his own head, be the undoing
of his Slaaneshi curse?
John Banks, Antonia Beamish, Robin Bowerman, Steve Conlin and Luis Soto.
Written by Ian St. Martin & Produced by Matt Renshaw
* * * * *
Blood And Bone
In the western sky, the bright emerald banner of the Visitor descends
like a portent of annihilation. On the continent of Jacuruku, the
Thaumaturgs have mounted another expedition in a bid to tame the
neighbouring wild jungle. Yet this is no normal wilderness.
It is
called Himatan, and it is said to be half of the spirit realm and half
of the earth. And it is said to be ruled by a powerful entity whom some
name the Queen of Witches and some a goddess: the ancient Ardata.
Saeng
grew up knowing only the rule of the magus Thaumaturgs - but it was the
voices from that land's forgotten past that she listened to. And when
her rulers launch their invasion of this jungle, those voices send her
and her brother on a desperate mission.
To the south the desert
tribes are united by the arrival of a foreign warleader, a veteran
commander in battered ashen mail men call the Grey Ghost. This warrior
leads these tribes on a raid unlike any other, deep into the heart of
Thaumaturg lands, while word comes to K'azz and mercenary company the
Crimson Guard of a contract in Jacuruku. And their employer? Could it be
the goddess herself?
Unabridged audio book narrated by John Banks
Running time: 26 hours and 38 minutes
Produced by Neil Gardner
* * * * *
The Soul, Severed
A Horus Heresy audio drama
As Lord Commander Primus, Eidolon leads the Emperor’s Children in
Fulgrim’s absence. But a challenge from within the Legion forces him to
turn the Kakophoni against their brethren.
As Lord Commander Primus, Eidolon leads the Emperor’s Children in the
absence of his primarch - who even knows where the daemon prince Fulgrim
resides, now? But a challenge from within the Legion forces Eidolon to
confront one of his rivals, the ambitious Archorian, a capable officer
and tactician who would see the Legion returned to glory.
Dissent is
unacceptable. It is time for the Kakophoni to be set against their
erstwhile brethren.
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Steve Conlin and Luis Soto
Written by Chris Wraight & Produced by Matt Renshaw
* * * * *
It was quite a thing for me to work with Peter Purves and Jean Marsh on The Sontarans. Peter has beena part of my life for most of my life, asa presenter of iconic children's television program, Blue Peter and Jean had created and acted in one of the most enduring and beloved television series in British tv history, Upstairs, Downstairs. Many's the time I've had 'pinch yourself' moments working with Big Finish and I've had the privilege of working with some amazing actors, but this certainly ranked very highly as a treasured moment.
Having essentially suggested that you immediately acquire all of the above recordings and listen to them, I do of course, sincerely hope that they are good and that you will enjoy them. As I said, I'm way behind in my listening and have only heard The Soul, Severed so far, so fingers crossed, there'll be some good stuff in there.
As a parting thought: did you read the update I posted on 20th November? There'll be a further, related update sometime next week, so if you find your thumbs starting to twiddle, I invite you to pop back and have a look at what's happening...
If you've had a look at yesterday's posting, amongst other things, I mentioned a freshly released audio drama, The Calculus of Battle. And so, without further ado, here are some details from Games Workshop:
The Calculus of Battle
An Iron Hands audio drama
Warleader Kardan Stronos of the Iron Hands fights against the
tyranids on Varasine, measuring his Chapter’s infallible logic and
ruthless strategy against the cost in human lives.
The beleaguered Astra Militarum defenders of Varasine fight against the
alien menace of a tyranid invasion, but their only possible salvation
approaches in the form of something almost equally inhuman.
Warleader
Kardan Stronos of the Iron Hands, long having studied the xenos threat,
now brings his fearless battle-brothers to join the war - only he can
save Varasine, measuring his Chapter’s infallible logic and ruthless
strategy against the cost in human lives.
John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth and Luis Soto
Written by David Guymer & Produced by Matt Renshaw
* * * * *
My principle task today is to re-read and prepare an audio drama script for Big Finish, which we are scheduled to record a little later this week. I have already had a chance to study the story and I'm very much looking forward to recording it; today is my chance to brush up on it and I'm savouring the prospect.
"Primogenitor: noun: an ancestor, especially the earliest ancestor of a people; a progenitor."
It seems that in the run up to the Christmas holidays, otherwise known as Advent (especially for those of us who are fortunate enough to have a chocolate filled Advent Calendar!), those good folks at Games Workshop are releasing something every day, either a novel or audio book/drama.
What a great idea! But as you can tell from the last posting, it's caught me out a little and I'm just as surprised as anyone as to what's becoming available. The audio drama Perpetual was my first and another was released today, The Calculus of Battle; but more of that anon, because in addition to these Advent releases, regular 'main range' stories are also appearing and for me, Fabius Bile Primogenitor by Josh Reynolds is a very exciting prospect indeed and I'm listening to it now, for the first time, as I write.
So what's it all about? Have a look at this amazing artwork, featuring dear old Fabius himself and whet your appetite (hopefully!) on the synopsis. There's also an audio sample to listen to on the Games Workshop website (via the following link) if you'd like a flavour of the story: Fabius Bile Primogenitor
Fabius Bile: Primogenitor
A Warhammer 40,000 audio book
Exiled into the depths of the
Eye of Terror for his dark deeds, former Emperor's Children Apothecary
Fabius is drawn back to the Imperium in search of a secret that could be
the key to saving his misbegotten life…
He is known by many names - Clonelord, Manflayer, Primogenitor. He is
the epitome of deceit and perversion, and feared by man and monster
alike. Once the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children, the madman
known as Fabius Bile possesses a knowledge of genetic manipulation
second to none. Now a renegade among renegades, he is loathed by those
he once called brother, and even the most degraded of Chaos Space
Marines fear his name.
Exiled for his dark experiments, Bile has
retreated deep into the Eye of Terror, leaving a trail of twisted
abominations in his wake. But when a former student brings word of the
ultimate prize for the taking, Bile is unable to resist being drawn once
more into the cauldron of war. For in seizing this prize, Fabius Bile
might yet discover the one secret his has been unable to unlock... the
secret which will prevent his inevitable doom.
Written by Josh Reynolds, Produced by Matt Renshaw & Narrated by John Banks
* * * * *
I thoroughly enjoyed working on this recording and had a great time up at Games Workshop HQ. I also have a particular reason to look forward to listening to this story, which I might mention in a future posting; how mysterious!
In closing, now is about the time I would normally sign off by saying:
...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!
And while that is still the case, the wait for the next posting won't be very long; in fact, it will be appearing here tomorrow! I spoil you I know, but hey, it's Christmas!
What? Two posts in as many days? Yes indeed; once again, Games Workshop have surprised me with the release today of the audio drama Perpetual. The turnaround on this story has been pretty quick and I wasn't expecting it to be available so soon, but here it is in all its glory, complete with a synopsis and some great artwork:
A Horus Heresy audio drama
Escaping from ruined Calth, Oll Persson and his band of refugees are
trapped on a dark, forgotten world. But the enemy draws near, and
immortality may not be enough to survive...
Oll Persson stands apart from the rest of mankind. He is one of the old
ones, one of the undying. One of the Perpetuals. Now, fleeing from the
ruins of Calth with his band of fellow refugees, the vagaries of the
warp have brought him through the backways of time and space to a city
that rests on the edge of oblivion... and no further.
The path has ended
abruptly, and Oll's enemies are finally closing in. Will his
immortality be enough to save him this time?
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Cliff Chapman,
Steve Conlin, Penelope Rawlins,
Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto
Written by Dan Abnett & Produced by Matt Renshaw
In this story, I'm primarily playing a character called 'John Grammaticus' and here are some details about him which I'm quoting from the Warhammer Wiki:
"John Grammaticus was a human operative of the mysterious xenos organisation known as the Cabal, and had been genetically altered by them to become what they referred to as a "Perpetual", a being who was capable of reincarnation and therefore was effectively immortal, much like the Emperor of Mankind. Also like the Emperor, Grammaticus was a natural psyker whose main psychic power allowed him to act as a powerful logokine, a psyker who is able to understand any language, no matter its form or origin, and unleash the innate power of words"
...Volume 2! Just sneaking in on the last day of the month is the second collection of stories featuring, for me at least, the classic combination of Steed & Peel, who appeared not only on television, but also as a comic strip in 'Diana' magazine in 1966 and '67. The name 'Diana' had nothing to do with Diana Rigg, who famously and iconically played Emma Peel on tv; just a coincidence as far as I'm aware.
There are lots of actors involved in the telling of these stories, (as you can see by scrolling down!) and I'm in there somewhere too. These stories are usually a lot of fun and I'm very much looking forward to giving them a listen. Although I must confess, I'm already way behind in my listening; so many long audio books to keep up with and the seven Malazan novels are not yet in my possession (do they even exist on CD yet???). A couple of those are up in the twenty hours plus range and one is something like 34 hours long. That's nothing of course to my audio version of The Bible (again, not available yet), which I reckon, comes in at something around the seventy-four hour mark! And the UNIT: Silenced box set has just arrived...
"But enough rambling!" I hear you cry, "Tell me about The Avengers!" Ok, here goes:
'... wonderfully silly, jam packed with knowing,
self-deprecating and reverential humour, these are the kind of stories
that you lose yourself and all track of time in... The writing is spot
on, Olivia Poulet and Julian Wadham are absolutely splendid... the
supporting cast do a first class job.... In fact, it’s all rather
magnificent and jolly good fun.' Tim Cundle Mass Movement
Playtime is Over by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky
Steed gets toyed with, Emma has an admirer.
A series of impossible robberies have plagued London. Called in to
investigate, Steed and Peel find themselves up against some very deadly
children. Or do they?
The Antagoniser by Paul Morris and Simon Barnard
Steed catches a bite, Emma is a little cowed.
Several noted scientists have died in unusual circumstances, and Steed
and Peel find themselves up against a deadly weapon. But who is behind
it? Does an old TV broadcast hold the answer?
The Mad Hatter by Matt Fitton
Steed charms a princess, Emma buys a hat.
When Princess Helga of Varania comes to England, all the nation is
charmed. Well, nearly all. A dastardly assassination plot is being
prepared and only Steed and Peel can stop it. Who wants to be a
milliner?
The Secret Six by John Dorney
Steed hits a boundary, Emma shall go to the ball.
When an invitation to a fancy dress party leads to murder, Steed and
Peel face the fight of their lives. The world’s six deadliest criminals
want them dead – and will stop at nothing to make sure of it!
Lizzie Roper (Black Heart/Miss Fellowes), Michael Keane (Jorgo), Kiruna Stamell (Girlie), Andrew Wincott (Tiny Tony/Lord Beauville), John Banks (Teddy/Taxi driver),
Richard Earl (Dr Verbatim/Fairground Worker), Michael Lumsden (Gruber/Klein/Window Cleaner/Agent), Paul Kemp (Partridge/Porter),
Eve Webster (Nurse/Elaine Veer/Matron/Parrot),
Maggie Service (Princess Helga/Assistant), Paul Chahidi (Mad Hatter/Driver/Policeman),
John Voce (Tom Bowler), Terry Molloy (Inspector Corduroy), Ozzie Yue (Chang-Tu),
George Asprey (Nick the Knifeman/Karloff),
Jonathan Tafler (Ice-cold Alex/Lord Tweezle), Anita Booth (Ma the Mink/Olga)
Directed by Ken Bentley & Produced by David Richardson
* * * * *
Phew! And that's the end of November's releases, but it's fair to say that I'm very excited about what might be coming up in December; very excited; very, very excited...
Good afternoon! I have to start by saying that "it's been quite a week!". Having completed the series of audio book recordings I mentioned in the last posting and 'been there and done that' with the episode of the tv series I also mentioned a while ago, (terrific fun by the way & much more to come on this) I had honestly been looking forward to a time of calm contemplation, a bit of navel gazing and the occasional thumb twiddle, maybe a hair cut?
But no. Two very welcome and exciting audio dramas have materialised in the last few days and will need to be recorded over the next few weeks. As always, I can't yet give details, but they will assuredly follow when the time comes for the recordings to be released. In their different ways, both dramas present interesting challenges and I'm thoroughly looking forward to mid week, when recording begins. I'm now in the process of reading and marking up the scripts and assimilating the narrative and the characters I'm required to play, all of which is fun, although marking up a long audio book can sometimes stretch on a bit.
"So far, so what?" you may ask. Well, just as one of my thumbs decided on a bit of twiddle practice, late on Thursday afternoon, the prospect of a very interesting job was dangled before me, a job which I thought I had virtually no chance of being seriously considered for - I mean, seriously? My benificent tormentor told me that by 6 o'clock that evening, I would know if the job was mine - or much more likely, not mine.
6 o'clock eventually came, about an hour after 5 - with no news - and went. Mmm. Not good. So I started telling myself how unlikely it would have been to have been offered the job and "you never miss what you haven't had" and trying to effect a sort of cool indifference to my inevitable disappointment which, karma wise, balanced out an otherwise upbeat and very positive week.
Friday. Nothing. The job, I should mention, is the recording of an audio book; quite a special and exciting and somewhat daunting audio book. Schedules are tight, deadlines already loom. It's Friday afternoon; the job has gone... surely?
...?
Late Friday afternoon; an email has been sent but is somehow late in arriving, lost in the ether. Unbelievably and only a few emails later, the offer is astonishingly made and the deal is done! Shocked. Just shocked. Still shocked a couple of days later and now also knee deep in preparation for this daunting task which will commence - sometime this week!!!
And all is calm.
So, to the main purpose of this posting. Not very long ago, a month or so, I recorded a fascinating book, which is now available from audible and Amazon and probably lots of other places too. Here are some details:
The Vanquished: Why The First World War Failed To End, 1917-1923
For the Western allies, 11 November 1918 has always been a solemn date -
the end of fighting which had destroyed a generation and a vindication
of a terrible sacrifice with the total collapse of their principal
enemies: the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. But
for much of the rest of Europe, this was a day with no meaning, as a
continuing nightmarish series of conflicts engulfed country after
country.
In this highly original, gripping book, Robert Gerwarth asks us to think
again about the true legacy of the First World War. In large part it
was not the fighting on the Western front which proved so ruinous to
Europe's future but the devastating aftermath, as countries on both
sides of the original conflict were wrecked by revolution, pogroms, mass
expulsions and further major military clashes.
If the war itself had in
most places been a struggle purely between state-backed soldiers, these
new conflicts were mainly about civilians and paramilitaries, and
millions of people died across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe
before the USSR and a series of rickety and exhausted small new states
came into being. Everywhere there were vengeful people, their lives
racked by a murderous sense of injustice, looking for the opportunity to
take retribution against enemies real and imaginary.
Only a decade
later, the rise of the Third Reich and other totalitarian states
provided them with the opportunity they had been looking for.
Written by Robert Gerwarth & Narrated by John Banks
Length:10 hrs and 40 mins
By strange coincidence, I'd been looking at this book in a book shop the day before the job to record it was offered; I took it as 'a sign'.
The book has certainly helped me to understand the brutal nature of the post WWI period and how the political threads of that conflict lead to the further catastrophe of WWII. Technically, I found The Vanquished quite a challenge to narrate, primarily because of the complexity of pronouncing the myriad people and place names that occur throughout. A private reader might easily skip over these names in pursuit of the stronger narrative line, whereas a narrator has to make each name sound authentic and accurate - and 'conversational'! I hope I have had some success with the task of achieving the right balance in pronouncing names from across Europe, Russia, The Balkans and indeed all those countries that became embroiled in the global conflict of WWI and it's aftermath.
* * * * *
That ought to be all for now, but just to step out onto a thinnish branch here: an audio drama has just been released from Games Workshop and I have been credited with an appearance in it. That might well be the case, but I have no specific record or recollection of having taken part...
Anyway, the cover art alone is worth posting, so whether I'm in it or not, here are some details:
The Thirteenth Wolf
A Horus Heresy audio drama
The
Space Wolves have assaulted Prospero and driven the traitorous Thousand
Sons into the madness of the immaterium. Bravely, the 13th Company
pursue their fleeing foes, but at what cost?
For more than two hundred years, the armies of the Emperor of Mankind
fought to reconquer the galaxy - led by the superhuman primarchs, the
Space Marine Legions brought countless worlds back under the rule of
ancient Terra.
Now Horus, once honoured Warmaster and favoured son of
the Emperor, has been corrupted by the whispered promises of Chaos. At
his command the Imperium is torn apart by a terrible and bloody civil
war, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen... At the Emperor's
command were the Wolves of Russ unleashed, but it is by the will of
Horus alone that Prospero now burns.
The VIth Legion have stormed the
world of Magnus the Red, with venerable warriors of the Thirteenth Great
Company always to be found where the fighting is at its most bloody,
seeking to write their own names into the sagas of Fenris.
But the
Thousand Sons are far from defeated, and their foul sorcery may yet be
the doom of all, deep within the maddening heart of the Portal Maze.
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble
and Toby Longworth
Written by Gav Thorpe & Produced by Matt Renshaw
* * * * *
And that really is where I should draw this posting to a close; the text becons!
Little play on words there; 'you nit', 'UNIT' - geddit? Oh well. So the first Big Finish release from me in a while - and it's quite a hefty box set. Should be an interesting and entertaining listen - I hope! Here are some details and an appetite whetting trailer:
Decades after their defeat by the Eleventh Doctor, the Silence prepare to rise against humanity....
House of Silents
There is no record of the presence of an alien species known as ‘The
Silents’ on Earth. UNIT has never engaged hostiles capable of editing
themselves from observers’ memories.
There is no evidence that such an opponent, if real, is regrouping and beginning a new plan of infiltration and manipulation.
Kate Stewart and her team are in no mortal danger. How can they be, when they don’t even know the enemy exists?
Square One
It’s business as usual at UNIT, and thankfully, Kate Stewart has no immediate threats to concern her. Or so she believes.
But when Sam Bishop returns from leave, he notices things aren’t quite
as they seem. Soon he and Osgood are on the trail of an elusive enemy.
Meanwhile, Kenneth LeBlanc and his controversial political movement
gather momentum, and one UNIT team member isn’t quite themselves...
Silent Majority
Kenneth LeBlanc looks set to lead his party to national victory,
overturning political opinion and taking the polls by storm. UNIT can
only stand and watch as a silent revolution takes place.
But who are LeBlanc’s real backers? And what use to them is the
triumph of a leader who seems to be nothing more than a liability?
The Silents are about to make the headlines.
In Memory Alone
When Sam Bishop and Osgood visit an orbiting space station for a
routine mission, they have no idea that they are part of an alien
scheme, years in the planning.
As the global situation spins out of control, Kate seeks help from an unlikely source.
The Silents are not done with humanity yet – and they will have their revenge.
Jemma Redgrave Kate Stewart Ingrid Oliver Petronella Osgood Warren Brown Lieutenant Sam Bishop
James Joyce Captain Josh Carter Ramon Tikaram Colonel Shindi Tracy Wiles Jacqui McGee Joanna Wake Miss Faversham Nicholas Day Kenneth LeBlanc/Heston Tom Alexander Cecil/Derek Aaron Neil Homeless Man/News Reporter/David Nimmy March Baroness Vance/Telokni
John Banks Mission Control/Captain/Soldier and Nicholas Briggs as The Silence
Written by Matt Fitton & John Dorney
Directed by Ken Bentley
* * * * *
Earlier today, I finished recording a series of audio stories which are scheduled to be released, starting early next year, which is now getting quite close! As usual, all a bit secret at the moment, but not long to wait for a proper update. Last week, I also had great fun doing some telly acting, which I haven't done for some time. It was quite a challenging part to play in some ways, but was nevertheless a very enjoyable project to work on and again, details will be revealed as soon as possible. And so, to sign off in time honoured fashion...
So what can that mean, 'Children of Sicarus'? Well, it's another full cast audio drama from Games Workshop which, astonishingly, becomes my 7th audio release of October and 48th of 2016 - phew!
Here are some details to whet your appetite and potentially, denude your savings...
Children of Sicarus
A Horus Heresy audio drama
Kor Phaeron of the Word Bearers and his devoted followers adjust to
life on the daemon world of Sicarus. Threatened by enemies and
surrounded by terrors, will they survive to exact revenge on the
Imperium?
After the destruction of the Infidus Imperator, Kor Phaeron of the Word
Bearers brought his followers to supposed safety in the Eye of Terror.
However, their newly adopted home, the daemon world Sicarus, is far from
the sanctuary they imagined – the twisted hordes of the Kairic Adept
Larazzar seek to crush these newcomers and all who would ally with them.
Only in the ancient legends of Sicarus can their salvation be found,
but is Kor Phaeron the one to lead them to it?
Featuring:
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth & Penelope Rawlins
Written by Anthony Reynolds & Produced by Matt Renshaw
Another Saturday and another Saturday release from Games Workshop - 'raay! In fact, as far as my contribution to this collection goes ( I've asterisked the stories I've read ), it's really a repetion of previously released material. There's an almost bewildering variety of 'bundled' stories to be had for the listener, keen to collect absolutely everything from The Black Library and Games Workshop, so just to tap into that sense of completeness, here are details of this latest anthology:
Books 22-24: Unabridged Audiobook Collection
A Horus Heresy audiobook collection
Traitorous brothers unite to take on mankind's Imperium not once but
twice in a collection of audiobook adventures that encompass the Shadow
Crusade that devastates Ultramar and an even more shadowy mission into
the Eye of Terror – plus 'Shadows of Treachery', which collects two
novellas and five short stories.
These stories all delve into the previously untold stories of the
Heresy, filling in the gaps between Isstvan and Terra for several
Legions, and showing the lengths to which the Traitor Primarchs will go
to achieve their victory over their former brothers.
Two primarch team-ups change the face of the galaxy! Fulgrim and
Perturabo team up for a mission that will prove the apotheosis of one
and the beginning of the end for the other, while Angron and Lorgar
bring ruin to the Ultramarines as their Shadow Crusade unfolds.
Meanwhile, the anthology Shadows of Treachery brings tales from across
the Imperium, from the killing fields of Isstvan V to the Iron Warriors'
battlefleet where the Imperial Fists fight for survival, and the halls
of the Imperial Palace itself where Rogal Dorn ponders the Imperium's
future.
The Crimson Fist by John French
The Dark King by Graham McNeill *
The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett *
The Kaban Project by Graham McNeill *
Raven's Flight by Gav Thorpe *
Death of a Silversmith by Graham McNeill *
Prince of Crows by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Angel Exterminatus by Graham McNeill
Betrayer by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Narrated by John Banks, Jonathan Keeble and David Timson & Produced by Matt Renshaw
Running time approximately 48 hours.
* * * * *
I've been very busy in the recording studio over the last few weeks and there's much more to be done in the coming weeks; next week however, I'm filming a television drama documentary, in which I play an American cop (!). The audition was great fun and I hope the actual job will be equally enjoyable; I will of course, give further details when I'm allowed to talk about the project more fully.
To finish on a tec note: I mentioned the non-functioning 'slideshow' feature last week and sadly, it will no longer work as part of this website, as the Picasa photo web site is no longer being updated and is unsupported now by Google. Maybe there'll be something better coming along soon to replace it; we shall see!
Another quick update release, this time on a very interesting audio drama from Games Workshop and here are some details:
Vox Tenebris
A War Zone Fenris audio drama
In
the midst of the daemonic assault on the Fenris system, a Space Wolf
and Dark Angel must overcome their enmity and work together if either is
to survive.
When the Fenris system is overrun by the forces of Chaos, the Imperium
rallies to its defence, and Space Marines from many Chapters arrive to
lend their aid to the beleaguered defenders. The battle to reclaim the
worlds of the Space Wolves is waged on many levels – in space, on land
and in the very seas themselves.
A Space Wolf and a Dark Angel must join
forces when the rest of their strikeforce is slaughtered by daemons,
deep underground. Unless they can find their way through the underworld
back to the surface, they are doomed – but the trials that face them
will test them to their very limit.
Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin and Toby Longworth.
Written by Robbie MacNiven & Produced by Matt Renshaw.
Running time 65 minutes.
*****
For some reason, the 'slideshow' feature which used to be situated at the bottom of this web page, has been removed. It's annoying, to say the least, that possibly as the result of a software update, a widget has ceased to function. I'll try to get it back up and running again, but it may now be impossible...
And on we go. The last eighteen or so months has been a very busy time in the recording studio for me and as a consequence, lots of audio stuff is now being released. It's tricky to work out an exact correlation between recording and publication, as some recordings have a longer production process than others. My recording of The Bible for example is still caught up in that process; I had originally thought it might have been published back in May. But as you can see from the 'new releases' area to the left of this page, highlighted in bright green, even in the last few months of the year, new work is still being published - and often to my surprise.
This week has seen the release of two new recordings; one, an anthology of short stories from Games Workshop and the other, an intriguing mystery, Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor, which is available to download from audible.co.uk or Amazon.
Here are some details of both recordings:
1934, London. Into the decaying cul-de-sac of Bleeding
Heart Square steps aristocratic Lydia Langstone fleeing an abusive
marriage.
However, unknown to Lydia, a dark mystery haunts Bleeding
Heart Square. What happened to Miss Penhow, the middle-aged spinster who
owns the house and who vanished four years earlier? Why is a seedy
plain-clothes policeman obsessively watching the square? What is making
struggling journalist Rory Wentwood so desperate to contact Miss Penhow?
And why are parcels of rotting hearts being sent to Joseph Serridge,
the last person to see Miss Penhow alive?
A Horus Heresy anthology
From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of
Terra itself – the Horus Heresy rages on across the galaxy in this
collection of short stories and novellas.
This anthology spans the entire Horus Heresy, with short stories from
Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill and Gav Thorpe, as well as two brand new
novella-length tales. Learn the fate of Rogal Dorn's fleet originally
sent to Isstvan III and descend deeper into the darkness of the Night
Lords Legion.
Performed by John Banks* Jonathan Keeble and David Timson, Produced by Matthew Renshaw
This anthology contains the following stories:
The Crimson Fist by John French
The Dark King by Graham McNeill *
The Lightning Tower by Dan Abnett *
The Kaban Project by Graham McNeill *
Raven's Flight by Gav Thorpe *
Death of a Silversmith by Graham McNeill *
Prince of Crows by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of
Terra itself - the greatest war in the history of mankind rages on.
While the traitor Legions continue their campaign of terror across the
galaxy, preparations are made for the defence of the Imperial Palace and
the final, inevitable reckoning that must yet come between Horus and
the Emperor...
Running time: 11 hours and 44 minutes
I'll see if I can find some audio clips to go along with these titles, just to give a flavour of the content, although alas, that's not always possible. In the meantime, my latest news is that I started recording a series of classic sci-fi novels on Friday, which will hopefully see the light of day early in the new year, so much more on that subject nearer the time of publication - and having had a lot of fun with the Games Workshop crew recently, I'm recording more with them next week. top secret at the moment of course, but patience will always be rewarded - so I'm told!
Good afternoon! Much to relay of recent and future adventures, but for the moment, here's a 'newsflash' update to note the release of this audio book:
The tumult of great powers colliding has passed, and the city of
Darujhistan and its citizens can at last get on with what matters:
trading, bickering, politicking and enjoying all the good things in
life. However, not all are ready to leave the past behind.
A
treasure hunter digging amongst the burial grounds that surround the
city is about to uncover a hidden crypt. He will open the last of a
series of sealed vaults - the one that no other dared touch - and in so
doing set free something so terrifying that the knowledge of its
interment may have been systematically wiped from all history.
Fortune
hunters are also at work far to the south. When a fragment of Moon's
Spawn, once the home of Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness, crashed into
the Rivan Sea, it created a chain of small islands. Legends and rumours
already surround them. The most potent of these is that here is hidden
the Throne of Night, claimed by some to be the seat of Mother Dark
herself.
Either way, all who seek this ancient artefact -
renegade mages, hardened mercenaries, even a Malazan army deserter -
believe it will bestow unlimited power upon the eventual possessor. The
stakes are high, greed is rife, betrayal inevitable, and murder and
chaos lie in wait....
Written by Ian C Esslemont, produced by Neil Gardner and narrated by me.
Running time 25 hours, 23 minutes
A Random House Audiobook, available now from audible.co.uk
Once again, my apologies for the lack of updates over the last few weeks; my excuse as ever, is that I've been immersed in preparation and recording. Details of what I've been doing will certainly appear here as soon as possible, although alas, not in this posting, as the intensity of work continues and I'm in the studio for the next several days. Before the middle of next month, I'll be recording four audio dramas and six audio books and time, as you can imagine, is at an absolute premium.
Such a short update, but there is something I can mention immediately, which is the release of an anthology of Warhammer stories that appear now as a single edition and here are some details:
Corax:A Horus Heresy anthology
The Lord of Ravens, Master of Deliverance, Primarch Corus Corvax
of the Raven Guard takes centre stage in a collection of works by Gav
Thorpe that explore his campaign of vengeance against Horus' allies and
his desperate attempts to hold his Legion together.
After Isstvan, after Deliverance, the Raven Guard still endure. Their
primarch Corvus Corax has rallied countless warriors to his banner,
striking back at the forces of the Warmaster on every front – from the
degenerate hereteks of the Mechanicum to the cruel legionaries of the
Sons of Horus, none shall escape his wrath. But although Corax has
managed to stall the physical corruption of his own Space Marines, what
of their spirit? And what sinister end must await those who dwell
forever in the darkness?
This anthology contains all of Gav
Thorpe’s tales of the Raven Guard in the Horus Heresy – the novellas
Soulforge and Ravenlord, and short stories ‘The Shadowmasters’, ‘The
Value of Fear’ and ‘Raptor’. Also included is the brand new novella
Weregeld, taking Corax’s legend to its grim conclusion.
Narrated by Gareth Armstrong and John Banks
Produced by Matthew Renshaw & Written by Gav Thorpe
Audiobook running time 12 hours and 49 minutes
* * * * *
Also, released on the 6th October from Audible.co.uk, is my audio book version of Ian C. Esslemont's Novel of The Malazan Empire: Orb, Sceptre, Throne.
Only the second update this month and very little in the way of excuses as to why I've been away from the blogosphere. Wait a minute; did you say 'Olympic Games'? Ah, yes; I have been glued to the Olympics and huge congratulations to all, medal winners or not and indeed to Rio for hosting the whole thing under difficult circumstances. Roll on Tokyo!
I wonder what events the Space Marines would be good at? Weight lifting? Shooting, TaeKwon-Do? At least those and several others I should imagine; but I digress.
Once again those good folks at Games Workshop have managed to spring a surprise or two over the last couple of weeks and I should give proper details of them here. A while ago, I mentioned that the second quartet of stories in the Realmgate Wars series had been released under the collective title Knights of Vengeance. Subsequently, the entire eight story saga was also released under the title The Realmgate Wars: The Audio Collection. What I have only recently noticed however, is that the first four stories have also been released under a collective title, The Hunt For Nagash. And so, perhaps somewhat out of sequence, here are the details:
In the long-ago Age of Myth, Sigmar's pantheon of gods conquered the
Mortal Realms and ruled them in peace – until the coming of Chaos. Among
the greatest of Sigmar's allies was Nagash, the god of Death and ruler
of the underworlds of Shyish.
At the height of the Allpoints war, Nagash betrayed his oaths of loyalty
and doomed Sigmar's plans to failure. Now, as the God-King's Stormcast
Eternals battle to liberate the Mortal Realms, a force from the Hallowed
Knghts Stormhost has been sent to find Nagash and bring him back into
the fold. But as they search the Realm of Death, they find only the
servants of Chaos – until a chance encounter provides hope. If they can
trust a vampire, that is.
The Hunt for Nagash Audio Drama Collection consists of four audio dramas by Josh Reynolds, in a zip file:
Performed by:
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin,
Jonathan Keeble, Stephen Perring,
Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto
Written by Josh Reynolds & Produced by Matthew Renshaw
* * * * *
And secondly for this month and coming as a complete surprise, a release from the Warhammer 40,000 range of stories, which are set some 10,000 years after the original Space Marine adventures.
Deathwatch: The Last Guardian
Dark Angels Brother Balthasar and a Deathwatch kill-team investigate a long-dead eldar craftworld infested with daemons…
As part of an elite Deathwatch kill team, Brother Balthasar of the Dark
Angels joins a special Inquisitorial mission to the eldar craftworld of
Kher-Ys. Long ago ravaged by the daemonic forces of Slaanesh, the
craftworld may still harbour the unlikeliest of allies for the Space
Marines, and the key to a greater victory for the Chapter.
Performed by:
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble,
Penelope Rawlins and Tania Rodrigues
Written by C Z Dunn & Produced by Matthew Renshaw
* * * * *
And that's just about it for this posting; I'm currently preparing an audio book to record in October and awaiting some audio drama scripts for early September. I think there might also be another audio book or two to fit in around that schedule, although, as the sun is shining and the great outdoors beckons, I reckon I can safely defer any proper activity at least for the rest of the afternoon - a bit of executive time management - The Doctor would surely approve!
Released by Random House Audiobooks on 4th August, Stonewielder, by Ian C. Esslemont.
Greymane believed he'd outrun his past. With his school for
swordsmanship in Falar, he was looking forward to a quiet life, although
his colleague, Kyle, wasn't as enamoured with life outside the
mercenary company, the Crimson Guard. However, it seems it is not so
easy for an ex-Fist of the Malazan Empire to disappear, especially one
under sentence of death from that same Empire.
For there is a new Emperor on the throne of Malaz, and he is dwelling
on the ignominy that is the Empire's failed invasion of the Korel
subcontinent. In the vaults beneath Unta, the Imperial capital, lie the
answers to that disaster. And out of this buried history surfaces the
name Stonewielder.
In Korel, Lord Protector Hiam, commander of
the Stormguard, faces the potential annihilation of all that he holds
dear. With few remaining men and a crumbling stone wall that has seen
better days, he confronts an ancient enemy: the seaborne Stormriders
have returned.
Religious war also threatens these lands. The cult
of the Blessed Lady, which had stood firm against the Riders for
millennia, now seeks to eradicate its rivals. And as chaos looms, a
local magistrate investigating a series of murders suddenly finds
himself at the heart of a far more ancient and terrifying crime - one
that has tainted an entire land....
Stonewielder is an enthralling new chapter in the epic story of a thrillingly imagined world.
Produced by Neil Gardner and narrated by me. Running time is 26 hours and 42 minutes.
Y'know, those good folks at Games Workshop do seem to like springing surprises and this month has had it's fair share. Earlier in July, I mentioned the four story collection of Realmgate Wars audio dramas Knights of Vengeance.
Now also available, in a single box set collection, are the eight audio dramas that make up the entire epic saga: The Prisoner of the Black Sun, Sands of Blood, The Lords of Helstone and Bridge of Seven Sorrows by Josh Reynolds &
Beasts of Cartha, Fist of Gork, Fist of Mork, Great Red and Only the Faithful by David Guymer.
Here's some fabulous artwork and further details of the stories in this collection:
A journey into the Realm of Death in search of Nagash himself leads the
Hallowed Knights Warrior Chamber known as the Bull-Hearts into a
dangerous alliance with an arch-betrayer... and the consequences of that
decision lead them on another hunt, searching the Realm of Beasts in a
quest for vengeance. Eight audio dramas weave a tale of hope, treachery
and retribution that crosses Realms, life and death.
Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Beth Chalmers,
Steve Conlin,
Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth, Stephen Perring, Saul
Reichlin, Luis Soto and Ramon Tikaram
Produced by Matthew Renshaw
Also released this month, is the audio drama The Either, again with some fabulous cover art. This story has been available in other formats earlier this year, but here it is now in all it's individual glory!
Tybalt Marr, Captain of the Sons of Horus, swears to bring down a thorn
in the Warmaster's side: the commander of the so-called "Shattered
Legions", the infamous Shadrak Meduson.
Captain Tybalt Marr of the Sons of Horus, so often overlooked by his
more glory-hungry brethren, returns to his Legion in triumph. However,
his boasts of having slain the infamous Iron Hands warleader Shadrak
Meduson soon fall flat when he learns of the recent assassination
attempt on Horus himself. Gathering his forces upon the conquered world
of Dwell, Marr returns to battle against the Shattered Legions,
determined to earn his rightful place in history.
Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Robin Bowerman, Ian Brooker,
Steve Conlin,
Toby Longworth, Luis Soto & Ramon Tukaram
Written by Graham McNeill & Produced by Matthew Renshaw
It's not easy to live in a world ruled by dragons. The
taxes are high and their control is complete. But for one group of bold
misfits, it's time to band together and steal back some of that wealth.
No one said they were smart.
Unabridged audio book narrated by me with a running time of 15 hours - 46 minutes.
Sometimes I wonder if the guys at Big Finish - Mssrs Richardson, Briggs, Bentley, Dorney & Fitton - get together from time to time, share copious amonts of alcohol and devise characters commensurate with the phrase "...betcha Banksy can't play that!"
Who knows? Whatever the case may be, the 'challenges' that have so far come my way, include being required to play several Gestalt Entities ie, The Morass, a swarm of leeches, a sponge, a fog, several Metatraxi and Numlocks (could have been Tabshifts or Alt Gr Backspaces!) a whole host of other creatures and alien beings, a dingo, an octopus and most recently - a raccoon. A raccoon. Happy to pick up the gauntlet and run with it, I decided to make him Swiss - just for the fun of it! And here is the result:
Come to Ricosta! Tropical climate, untouched beaches, fabulous
cuisine... and no extradition treaties. The perfect retirement planet
for a certain type of 'business person' – such as Ms Melanie Bush,
formerly the co-owner of the Iceworld emporium, now on the run from her
former criminal associate's criminal associates...
Some other former associates of Ms Bush are abroad in this space Costa
del Crime, however. Not long ago, the time and space traveller known as
the Doctor arrived here, alongside his sometimes-criminal associate, the
reformed juvenile offender Ace. But now the Doctor's gone missing – and
Melanie Bush is about to learn that on the planet Ricosta, the wages of
sin... are death.
Sylvester McCoy The Doctor Bonnie Langford Mel Sophie Aldred Ace
Ginny Holder Gloria/Secretary Des McAleer Lefty Lonnigan Stephen Hagan Nathan Later
Harry Myers Atomon/Sperovore Banker/Steward
John Banks Mayor/Sperovore Auditor/Sperovore Financer
Other parts portrayed by the cast
Written by Matt Fitton
Directed by Ken Bentley
This is quite an unusual addition to the Big Finish playlist and I'm very much looking forward to giving it a listen. In the meantime, I'm back in the BF studio next week for more fun; but that's...
...a line from Eastenders or a classic album from Marvin Gaye? Your call; mercy, mercy me...
So this month of July brings some new stuff for the ears of the world to wrap themselves around and a few audio surprises to savour. I've also been in a variety of windowless rooms, otherwise known as recording studios, to lay down some heavy sci-fi/fantasy beats, for no other reason than to bring joy and enlightenment to the universe - well, someone had to give it a go.
The first thing to mention this month is the release of Only The Faithful, the fourth instalment of The Knights of Vengeance series from Games Workshop, in which I play Lord Relictor Ramus. Here are some details:
At last, the Hallowed Knights have cornered their quarry... but the
vampire they seek has amassed an army of the dead, and the price of
vengeance will be dear indeed.
After a gruelling journey, the warriors of the Hallowed Knights and
Astral Templars have found their quarry in the Sea of Bones. During the
hunt, Mannfred the vampire lord has raised a mighty undead host to
protect the realmgate he has claimed.
Whilst Ramus of the Hallowed
Knights seeks the vampire’s head and Vandalus of the Astral Templars
wants to reclaim the realmgate, both must fight as one and alongside
their orruk allies if they are to triumph. Against one of Nagash’s
mortarchs, the test will be stern and only the faithful will prevail...
Performed by:
Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Ian Brooker, Steve Conlin,
Jonathan Keeble,
Stephen Perring, Saul Reichlin and Luis Soto
Written by David Guymer & Produced by Matthew Renshaw
One of the surprises I alluded to above, is that all four stories in this series are available together; whoda thought it?
As this is only the first week of July, the rest of the month's releases
are, well, yet to be released. I will of course publish details here
when they become available; in the meantime, here's news of an
unabridged audio book I recorded recently for Hachette, which is scheduled for release on the 19th:
It's not easy to live in a world ruled by dragons. The taxes are high, and their control is complete.
But for one group of bold misfits, it's time to band together and steal back some of that wealth.
No one said they were smart.
Written by Jon Hollins and narrated by me, with a running time of 15 hours, 46 minutes.
* * * * *
There's much more to come this month, but for the time being and in time honoured fashion, I'll sign off by saying...
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.
