"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
Media Content
This Windows 10 Googleblog is designed and best viewed on Firefox; unfortunately, some media content may not function properly with other browsers or operating systems.
Search This Blog
Monday 16 May 2016
David Tennant and Catherine Tate: The Tenth Doctor Adventures
How exciting is this!?!? Available from today, three stories featuring the fantastic David Tennant and Catherine Tate as The Doctor and Donna respectively - I just can't wait to listen to these stories and here, to whet your appetite, if such a thing were necessary, are synopses and some amazing artwork:
Technophobia
When the Doctor and Donna visit London’s Technology Museum for a glimpse into the future, things
don’t go to plan.
The most brilliant IT brain in the country can’t use her computer. More
worrying, the exhibits are attacking the visitors, while outside,
people seem to be losing control of the technology that runs their
lives.
Is it all down to simple human stupidity, or is something more sinister going on?
Beneath the streets, the Koggnossenti are waiting. For all of London to fall prey to technophobia...
David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble),
Written by Matt Fitton
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
Time Reaver
Calibris. The spaceport planet where anything goes. Where anyone who
doesn't want to be found can be lost, and where everything has its
price. Where betentacled gangster Gully holds sway at the smugglers’
tavern, Vagabond’s Reach.
The alien Vacintians are trying to impose some order on the chaos. Soon
the Doctor and Donna discover why. An illegal weapon is loose on the
streets. A weapon that destroys lives… Slowly and agonisingly.
The Time Reaver.
David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble),
Alex Lowe (Soren), Sabrina Bartlett (Cora), Terry Molloy (Rone),
John Banks (Gully), Dan Starkey (Dorn)
Other roles played by the cast
Written by Jenny T Colgan
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
Death and the Queen
Donna Noble has never been lucky in love.
So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the
wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn’t
holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is
certainly not amused.
But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the
darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army.
When it looks like even the Doctor can’t save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself?
David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble),
Blake Ritson (Rudolph), Alice Krige (Queen Mum), Beth Chalmers (Hortense), Alan Cox (Death)
Other roles played by the cast
Written by James Goss
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
Well, as I'm sure you can imagine, this was such a fabulous project to work on and I'm grateful indeed to Nick Briggs for having me in to play Gully in Time Reaver. It seemed to me that the 'stars' of the show were also savouring the time they had together in the studio, reprising such well regarded, and indeed, loved characters.
The fun was had in getting things right and doing our very best to convey the drama of these stories; there was no 'phoning it in'; David and Catherine, as the true professionals they are, were thoroughly prepared and committed to the project and it was indeed a privilidge for me to share a studio with them - a bit daunting, especially playing such an extreme a character as Gully, but a pleasure nontheless.
Thank you to all!
Here's a link to Paul Simpson's review, which came through via twitter at the crack of dawn this morning; again, thank you Paul!
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment