Our Classic Thriller Season continues at The Theatre Royal, Windsor this week with a production of The Shadow of The Ghost
Dawn of Fire: The Indomitus Crusade
The Mercy Chair
The Mercy Chair
Washington Poe Series: Book 6
The Babel Books
"Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!" Josiah Bancroft - author
Hand of Abaddon
Dawn of Fire Series: Book 8 of 9
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Thursday, 5 June 2014
Survivors
Survivors Series 1: released today from Big Finish Productions - enjoy!
It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…
When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.
Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again…
It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…
When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.
Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again…
1. Revelation by Matt Fitton
When people begin to die of a new strain of a flu virus, newspaper journalists Helen Wiseman and Daniel Connor investigate. They uncover a terrifying story - but will anyone ever get to read it?
2. Exodus by Jonathan Morris
Billions of people have died across the globe. Cities are rife with secondary diseases, and thesurvivors attempt to make their way out of London.
3. Judges by Andrew Smith
After a storm wipes out much of their community's supplies, Greg and Jenny go in search of new provisions - much to Abby's diaapproval.
4. Esther by John Dorney
Greg, Jenny and their new friends are trapped. Will they ever make it out alive?
Lucy Fleming Jenny Richards Ian McCulloch Greg Preston John Banks Daniel Connor
Louise Jameson Jackie Burchall Sinead Keenan Susie Edwards Caroline Langrishe Helen Wiseman
Adrian Lukis James Gillison Chase Masterson Maddie Price Terry Molloy John Redgrave
Camilla Power Fiona Bell
Special appearance by Carolyn Seymour Abby Grant
When people begin to die of a new strain of a flu virus, newspaper journalists Helen Wiseman and Daniel Connor investigate. They uncover a terrifying story - but will anyone ever get to read it?
2. Exodus by Jonathan Morris
Billions of people have died across the globe. Cities are rife with secondary diseases, and thesurvivors attempt to make their way out of London.
3. Judges by Andrew Smith
After a storm wipes out much of their community's supplies, Greg and Jenny go in search of new provisions - much to Abby's diaapproval.
4. Esther by John Dorney
Greg, Jenny and their new friends are trapped. Will they ever make it out alive?
Written by: Matt Fitton, Jonathan Morris, Andrew Smith, John Dorney
Directed by: Ken Bentley
Directed by: Ken Bentley
Lucy Fleming Jenny Richards Ian McCulloch Greg Preston John Banks Daniel Connor
Louise Jameson Jackie Burchall Sinead Keenan Susie Edwards Caroline Langrishe Helen Wiseman
Adrian Lukis James Gillison Chase Masterson Maddie Price Terry Molloy John Redgrave
Camilla Power Fiona Bell
Special appearance by Carolyn Seymour Abby Grant
"Compelling, arresting, devastating, invigorating, heartening and more than a little frightening, Survivors: Series One is probably about as good as the audio medium gets. More than recommended; required listening."
Starburst Magazine
Friday, 30 May 2014
2014 Audie Awards
Just a very quick posting, as I'm currently on a lunch break from theatre rehearsals in Nottingham; do you remember in a previous posting a couple of months ago, I mentioned that the audio anthology Thirteen had been nominated for an Audie Award?
Well, long story short; the Awards Ceremony took place last night in New York - and we won! I'm unsurprisingly surprised, thrilled and delighted - congratulations to all and huge thanks to Neil Gardner at Spokenworld Audio who produced Thirteen and got me involved as a reader of one of the 'thirteen' stories - amazing!
Hidden Track (part 1) by Scott Harrison read by Barnaby Edwards
Dead Space by George Mann read by Greg Wise
A Girl, Sitting by Mark Morris read by Jilly Bond
Finding The Path by Kaaron Warren read by Trevor White
The Hairstyle of the Devil by Martin Day read by Arthur Darvill
Down by Gary McMahon read by Stephen Rashbrook
Visions by Cavan Scott read by Michael Maloney
Half Life by Dan Abnett read by John Banks
Hidden Track (part 2) by Scott Harrison read by Barnaby Edwards
With Her In Spirit by Stephen Gallagher read by Frances Barber
Tabula Rasa by Alasdair Stuart read by Lalla Ward
One Hit Wanda by Kim Newman read by Samuel West
A Glass of Water by Mark Wright read by Gemma Arterton
Ghost Pit by Simon Clark read by Jeff Harding
I Wish by Johnny Mains read by Steven Cree
Hidden Track (part 3) by Scott Harrison read by Barnaby Edwards
Edited by Scott Harrison
Produced by Neil Gardner
"one of the most intriguing and entertaining audiobooks in years...every performance and tale is
worth hearing" - AudioFile
worth hearing" - AudioFile
"A great collection of supernatural tales - those who like their spines chilled will be very pleased.
9/10" - Starburst Magazine
9/10" - Starburst Magazine
"A deliciously dark collation. 8/10" - SciFiBulletin
"Nicely assembled...not a bad story or bad vocal performance amongst them. 3.5/5" - SFX Magazine
"If you're a fan of classic, spine tingling horror then that should be reason enough to listen to Thirteen" - GeekPlanetOnline
"Thirteen is a fantastically dark, spooky anthology. 7/10" - The Cult DenSunday, 25 May 2014
Survivors Series 1
Late as it is and busy as I am, I just had to post this image of the quite stunning artwork for the new Survivors audio series from Big Finish. Designer Anthony Lamb has done an amazing job and I really can't wait to get my hands and ears on this recording.
Big Finish released this image a little while ago along with the following update:
We are delighted to reveal the full packaging of Survivors - Series 1, our brand new audio drama set in a post apocalyptic world created by Terry Nation (The Daleks, Blake’s 7).
Survivors will be released early in June, and sees the return of three characters from the original series;
Greg Ian McCulloch, Jenny Lucy Fleming and Abby Carolyn Seymour, here making a cameo role before a larger involvement in Series 2.
Big Finish released this image a little while ago along with the following update:
We are delighted to reveal the full packaging of Survivors - Series 1, our brand new audio drama set in a post apocalyptic world created by Terry Nation (The Daleks, Blake’s 7).
Survivors will be released early in June, and sees the return of three characters from the original series;
Greg Ian McCulloch, Jenny Lucy Fleming and Abby Carolyn Seymour, here making a cameo role before a larger involvement in Series 2.
Our series begins with the plague that will wipe out most of the
world’s population, and introduces a number of new characters, some of
whom will go on to future series.
The Series 1 line-up includes:
Helen Wiseman Caroline Langrishe Daniel Connor John
Banks
Maddie Price Chase Masterson John Redgrave Terry Molloy
Jackie Burchall Louise Jameson Susie Edwards Sinead Keenan
James
Gillison Adrian Lukis Fiona Bell Camilla Power
-
but which of them will survive?
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Audible audios...
Just taking a quick break from the joyful task of 'cold' line learning, to announce the release of two new audio books, Black Venus by James MacManus and Gabriel's Angel by Mark A. Radcliffe, which are now available from Audible.co.uk. Both were fun to work on with producer Neil Gardner at Ladbroke Audio and should you decide to give them a listen, I hope you'll enjoy them too.
A fictional biographical slice of Baudelaire's life and love with his famous Haitian muse, Jeanne Duval, Black Venus
captures the artistic scene in the great French capital city, at a time
when the likes of Dumas and Balzac argued literature in the cafés of
the Left Bank. Among the bohemians, the young Charles Baudelaire stood
out, dressed impeccably thanks to an inheritance that was quickly
vanishing.
Still at work on the poems that he hoped would make his name, he spent his nights enjoying the alcohol, opium and women who filled the seedy streets of the city. One woman would catch his eye, a beautiful Haitian cabaret singer named Jeanne Duval. Their lives would remain forever intertwined thereafter, and their romance would inspire his most infamous poems leading to the banning of his masterwork, Les Fleurs du Mal, and a scandalous public trial for obscenity.
Gabriel Bell is a grumpy 44 - year old web journalist
irritated by the accumulating disappointments in life. He and his
girlfriend Ellie want to start a family, but Gabriel has so few sperm he
can name them and knit them flippers. So it's IVF, which is expensive.
Losing his job was bad enough, but getting run over and waking up to
find himself in a therapy group run by angels really annoys him.
In Gabriel's group are a professional killer and his last victim, as well as the woman whose car put Gabriel and herself in a coma. From this therapeutic community, just below Heaven, they can see the lives of those they have left behind and how they cope. Will the one hit wonder resurrect his Eighties band for a reunion tour? And can Ellie and her friends retrieve what they need from Gabriel's body, so that she at least can finish what they started?
If the group do well in the therapy they may be allowed to pass into Heaven, or go back to Earth to finish their lives. If not, it's Hell. Or worse, more therapy.
An epic new audio series starts recording next week for me (details to follow!) and then I'm off to Nottingham to start rehearsals for the first of the three plays I'm due to perform in weekly rep at Theatre Royal Windsor and Theatre Royal Nottingham. Further details are listed in the previous May posting.
Still at work on the poems that he hoped would make his name, he spent his nights enjoying the alcohol, opium and women who filled the seedy streets of the city. One woman would catch his eye, a beautiful Haitian cabaret singer named Jeanne Duval. Their lives would remain forever intertwined thereafter, and their romance would inspire his most infamous poems leading to the banning of his masterwork, Les Fleurs du Mal, and a scandalous public trial for obscenity.
Gabriel Bell is a grumpy 44 - year old web journalist
irritated by the accumulating disappointments in life. He and his
girlfriend Ellie want to start a family, but Gabriel has so few sperm he
can name them and knit them flippers. So it's IVF, which is expensive.
Losing his job was bad enough, but getting run over and waking up to
find himself in a therapy group run by angels really annoys him. In Gabriel's group are a professional killer and his last victim, as well as the woman whose car put Gabriel and herself in a coma. From this therapeutic community, just below Heaven, they can see the lives of those they have left behind and how they cope. Will the one hit wonder resurrect his Eighties band for a reunion tour? And can Ellie and her friends retrieve what they need from Gabriel's body, so that she at least can finish what they started?
If the group do well in the therapy they may be allowed to pass into Heaven, or go back to Earth to finish their lives. If not, it's Hell. Or worse, more therapy.
* * * * *
a bientot!
Sunday, 18 May 2014
May 2014 - what a thriller!
What is it about May? Once again, I seem to have waved goodbye to my comfort zone, the notion of restful sleep and perhaps even a chunk of my dwindling sanity. I've just had a quick look at a posting I made here last May and notice a pattern beginning to develop; a calm-ish start to the year, followed in the fifth month by a tsunami of work and over commitment. As a jobbing actor, living a life of famine or feast, I always find it hard to have to turn down offers of work: it goes against the grain. This May however, I have had to turn down some lovely work; work that I would really love to have done. The reason for doing so is that, like last May, I've been very busy in the recording studio and have additionally agreed to take a job in the theatre at short notice.
I do love theatre, it's what I grew up doing and is something I am by now, very familiar with. The thrill of rehearsing and performing a play has never diminished for me. However, I know of several actors, especially more recent graduates, who perhaps don't have the same passion for theatre as some of us older hands. For them, getting into television and building a career there is the thing to do and for all I know, such an approach might be actively promoted in drama schools these days; television is often a much more lucrative pursuit and from an agent's point of view, a much better way to quickly establish a client's profile.
All this preamble is building up to me saying that, once again as May has rolled around, I think I might have bitten off more than I can possibly chew. Last year, I had to 'cold learn' two Maeterlinck plays and go on after three afternoon rehearsals. That certainly got my attention and having achieved the task in hand, I felt super confident that 'the old magic' was still there, that I could do anything and I really was a 'master of the universe' etc etc... Such confidence is a very precious commodity and it left me about an hour after the final curtain on that production. Since then, a whole year of self doubt has crept back in and my task this year, makes last year's look like a couple of weeks sipping cocktails on a private beach, with a warm, gentle breeze and the sound of the ocean for company.
It's now May 18th; by June 28th, my Mission Impossible is to have learned, rehearsed and performed three full-length plays. This kind of work is usually referred to as 'weekly rep' and in late 19th - mid 20th Century Britain, became the established method of putting on a variety of shows in quick succession, at a time when most towns and cities would have had their own Repertory Theatre with it's own resident company of actors. The idea is to rehearse the first play and as soon as it opens, start rehearsing the second and so on; rehearsing during the day and performing at night. When I started out, most of the older actors I worked with had begun their careers in weekly rep and considered it a right of passage, a badge of honour almost. Apart from my final two years at university, when I was rehearsing and performing at least a couple of productions at any given moment, I've never experienced such 'full on' theatre and in a bizarre way, I'm really looking forward to the immense challenge of it. Good job I love theatre!
I leave for Nottingham next Tuesday to start rehearsals, but before then, I also have four days in the recording studio, for which I need to be fully prepared of course. Not complaining, but - aaaaaaagh!
I shall spend the rest of this sunny Sunday trying to assimilate the first play we're due to rehearse and I reckon I'm about half way there. The goal I set myself was to have cracked the first play by tonight and so far, I'm roughly on schedule. My days in the recording studio are semi-prepared, but tomorrow's I haven't yet seen the script for and will probably have to rely on instinct when it comes to performing it. The next two projects are just about ready although the final three stories I have yet to read.
So, there we have it. I will of course update here when possible and let you know how things are going...
In the meantime, here's a poster for the shows at Windsor; I'm in The Ghost Train, The Shadow of The Ghost and Fatal Encounter.
As a quick PS, I should also mention that Nick Briggs is directing the first two plays and Karen Henson is directing Fatal Encounter.
I do love theatre, it's what I grew up doing and is something I am by now, very familiar with. The thrill of rehearsing and performing a play has never diminished for me. However, I know of several actors, especially more recent graduates, who perhaps don't have the same passion for theatre as some of us older hands. For them, getting into television and building a career there is the thing to do and for all I know, such an approach might be actively promoted in drama schools these days; television is often a much more lucrative pursuit and from an agent's point of view, a much better way to quickly establish a client's profile.
All this preamble is building up to me saying that, once again as May has rolled around, I think I might have bitten off more than I can possibly chew. Last year, I had to 'cold learn' two Maeterlinck plays and go on after three afternoon rehearsals. That certainly got my attention and having achieved the task in hand, I felt super confident that 'the old magic' was still there, that I could do anything and I really was a 'master of the universe' etc etc... Such confidence is a very precious commodity and it left me about an hour after the final curtain on that production. Since then, a whole year of self doubt has crept back in and my task this year, makes last year's look like a couple of weeks sipping cocktails on a private beach, with a warm, gentle breeze and the sound of the ocean for company.
It's now May 18th; by June 28th, my Mission Impossible is to have learned, rehearsed and performed three full-length plays. This kind of work is usually referred to as 'weekly rep' and in late 19th - mid 20th Century Britain, became the established method of putting on a variety of shows in quick succession, at a time when most towns and cities would have had their own Repertory Theatre with it's own resident company of actors. The idea is to rehearse the first play and as soon as it opens, start rehearsing the second and so on; rehearsing during the day and performing at night. When I started out, most of the older actors I worked with had begun their careers in weekly rep and considered it a right of passage, a badge of honour almost. Apart from my final two years at university, when I was rehearsing and performing at least a couple of productions at any given moment, I've never experienced such 'full on' theatre and in a bizarre way, I'm really looking forward to the immense challenge of it. Good job I love theatre!
I leave for Nottingham next Tuesday to start rehearsals, but before then, I also have four days in the recording studio, for which I need to be fully prepared of course. Not complaining, but - aaaaaaagh!
I shall spend the rest of this sunny Sunday trying to assimilate the first play we're due to rehearse and I reckon I'm about half way there. The goal I set myself was to have cracked the first play by tonight and so far, I'm roughly on schedule. My days in the recording studio are semi-prepared, but tomorrow's I haven't yet seen the script for and will probably have to rely on instinct when it comes to performing it. The next two projects are just about ready although the final three stories I have yet to read.
So, there we have it. I will of course update here when possible and let you know how things are going...
In the meantime, here's a poster for the shows at Windsor; I'm in The Ghost Train, The Shadow of The Ghost and Fatal Encounter.
As a quick PS, I should also mention that Nick Briggs is directing the first two plays and Karen Henson is directing Fatal Encounter.
...further updates coming soon!
Friday, 9 May 2014
Paul Spragg
For the last couple of days, I've been in the studio with the Big Finish crew, recording a Dr Who adventure and having great fun as always. At the end of today's recording, director and BF Executive Producer Nick Briggs, told us, with great courage and dignity I might say, that our dear friend and colleague Paul Spragg had very sadly died yesterday.
To be honest, I'm still so shocked at the news that it all seems slightly unreal; forgive me if what I'm writing doesn't make much sense or fails to convey the deep sense of loss that so many people will be experiencing right now, particularly of course, Paul's close friends and family for whom I have the deepest sympathy at this very sad time.
Many visitors to this site may well have had direct dealings with Paul, either via the BF website or even in person at one of the Big Finish Days or other conventions. If so, you will know something of the kind of man he was. Paul was always so kind to me, friendly and approachable from the outset; we started working with BF at more or less the same time and he was always fun to be with and incredibly supportive.
Only a few weeks ago for example, soon after the release of Dr Who: Moonflesh, he sent me an email, completely out of the blue, just to say how much he'd enjoyed the story and to say nice things about my performance in it. I was incredibly touched that he'd taken the time to express such warm and generous sentiments and wrote back to tell him so, little imagining that we'd never be in touch again. He will be much missed.
To be honest, I'm still so shocked at the news that it all seems slightly unreal; forgive me if what I'm writing doesn't make much sense or fails to convey the deep sense of loss that so many people will be experiencing right now, particularly of course, Paul's close friends and family for whom I have the deepest sympathy at this very sad time.
Many visitors to this site may well have had direct dealings with Paul, either via the BF website or even in person at one of the Big Finish Days or other conventions. If so, you will know something of the kind of man he was. Paul was always so kind to me, friendly and approachable from the outset; we started working with BF at more or less the same time and he was always fun to be with and incredibly supportive.
Only a few weeks ago for example, soon after the release of Dr Who: Moonflesh, he sent me an email, completely out of the blue, just to say how much he'd enjoyed the story and to say nice things about my performance in it. I was incredibly touched that he'd taken the time to express such warm and generous sentiments and wrote back to tell him so, little imagining that we'd never be in touch again. He will be much missed.
Big Finish have released a statement which you can read here: Paul Spragg
Paul with Lisa Greenwood at The Dr Who 50th Anniversary November 2013
Rest In Peace Pauly x
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Survivors: June 2014
It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…
When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.
Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again…
Monday, 5 May 2014
Star Wars? No, we all get along very well...
In an unprecedented outburst of pre-launch candour, Big Finish have revealed not only the name of a forthcoming episode of Dr Who, but have also photographed most of the cast along with writer and director and made it public!
Apparently, some other Sci-Fi franchise had tried to steal our thunder by publishing a very similar photograph of their cast and director, although the details are so obscure, I'm afraid I can't recollect any further info about their production; chances are, it was merely a 'stunt' and the show, whatever it is, might never get made...
Dr Who: The Widow's Assassin is scheduled for release in October.
Friday, 25 April 2014
...under the Spotlight.
Good afternoon - and what a grey, damp and Aprilly afternoon it is! You find me currently preparing for next week's recording of a fascinating Dr Who story - but more of that later as I am of course, sworn to secrecy about the entire adventure at the moment. As part of my routine 'prep' for such a vocal work out, I would normally now be pacing the garden and yodelling gently to myself as a warm up exercise*. Alas, the weather has kept me indoors and in some ways, it almost feels like I've got the day off.
With that in mind and not wishing to fritter the time away, I decided to refresh the audio sample clips attached to my Spotlight page. The original '5 Minute Upload' appears with other clips further down this site, but these new clips have been uploaded individually in the order they're posted below. The maximum amount of time allowed for sample uploads is five minutes, which can be made up in any way you choose. I suppose if the point of the whole exercise is to demonstrate a bit of vocal versatility and technical competence to those in the industry who might be in a position to offer work, it makes more sense to use a variety of clips rather than uploading a single clip of five minutes. You get my drift...
Some of these clips might well be familiar, if not as samples, then perhaps because you've heard the full story they're taken from. I'm not convinced that anyone at all will listen to them via Spotlight, but hope you will find something here to enjoy.
With that in mind and not wishing to fritter the time away, I decided to refresh the audio sample clips attached to my Spotlight page. The original '5 Minute Upload' appears with other clips further down this site, but these new clips have been uploaded individually in the order they're posted below. The maximum amount of time allowed for sample uploads is five minutes, which can be made up in any way you choose. I suppose if the point of the whole exercise is to demonstrate a bit of vocal versatility and technical competence to those in the industry who might be in a position to offer work, it makes more sense to use a variety of clips rather than uploading a single clip of five minutes. You get my drift...Some of these clips might well be familiar, if not as samples, then perhaps because you've heard the full story they're taken from. I'm not convinced that anyone at all will listen to them via Spotlight, but hope you will find something here to enjoy.
...all for now, more soon!
*...not really!
Monday, 14 April 2014
Audio update...
I'm aware of how few updates I've managed to post recently - my apologies! Paradoxically, that is not as a result of there being little to mention or talk about; there is in fact quite a lot going on at the moment in a variety of recording studios and on a variety of projects - which is good!
Unfortunately, on many of these projects, I'm sworn to secrecy, (yeah, I know - yawn, yawn), at least until they are about to be launched. What I think I'm allowed to say, is that I've recently been back in the studio with the Big Finish crew, with whom there are further dates scheduled both this month and next and which of course, I'm very excited about - as usual!
What I can also say this fine April evening, is that I was in the studio for a couple of days last week with producer Neil Gardner, to record an audio book for Audible.co.uk called Black Venus, written by James MacManus, which I very much enjoyed and later this week, have another audio book to record for the same company, Gabriel's Angel by Mark A Radcliffe. At a time nearer their respective release dates, I'll mention them again and add a synopsis for each; meanwhile, here's some artwork from their original book covers, which might well change along with the new format.
...all for now - further updates coming soon!
Unfortunately, on many of these projects, I'm sworn to secrecy, (yeah, I know - yawn, yawn), at least until they are about to be launched. What I think I'm allowed to say, is that I've recently been back in the studio with the Big Finish crew, with whom there are further dates scheduled both this month and next and which of course, I'm very excited about - as usual!
What I can also say this fine April evening, is that I was in the studio for a couple of days last week with producer Neil Gardner, to record an audio book for Audible.co.uk called Black Venus, written by James MacManus, which I very much enjoyed and later this week, have another audio book to record for the same company, Gabriel's Angel by Mark A Radcliffe. At a time nearer their respective release dates, I'll mention them again and add a synopsis for each; meanwhile, here's some artwork from their original book covers, which might well change along with the new format.
...all for now - further updates coming soon!
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Dr Who: Moonflesh
"...whenever April showers come along."
Another month, another April and another brief update on recent events. Way back in November 2012 - yes, 2012 - a few of us gathered expectantly at Moat Studios to record Dr Who: Moonflesh and sometime very soon, it will become available for all to hear.
Now I know I almost always say how much I'm looking forward to listening to a particular release and often give the reason, especially if there's a specific memory or event associated with recording etc etc. Moonflesh was recorded so long ago, that I can't remember very much about the story at all, so there's one reason to look forward to catching up with it.
In the meantime, here is some fab cover art by Damien May and a synopsis from Big Finish:
One wouldn't normally expect to find elephants, gorillas and rhinoceroses roaming free in Suffolk in the year 1911. One wouldn't normally expect to find an extra-dimensional police box at the same time/space location either. Two aliens, named the Doctor and Nyssa, exit said box, only to find themselves pursued by a hungry lioness – for they've landed in the private hunting grounds of the famous explorer Nathaniel Whitlock, who's brought together a motley group of friends and acquaintances for a weekend's shooting.
But one of Whitlock's guests isn't all they seem. One of them wants the secrets of the Moonflesh, the mystic mineral looked after by Whitlock's retainer, a Native American known as Silver Crow. Because the Moonflesh is reputed to have the power to call down spirits from another realm…
Another month, another April and another brief update on recent events. Way back in November 2012 - yes, 2012 - a few of us gathered expectantly at Moat Studios to record Dr Who: Moonflesh and sometime very soon, it will become available for all to hear.
Now I know I almost always say how much I'm looking forward to listening to a particular release and often give the reason, especially if there's a specific memory or event associated with recording etc etc. Moonflesh was recorded so long ago, that I can't remember very much about the story at all, so there's one reason to look forward to catching up with it.
In the meantime, here is some fab cover art by Damien May and a synopsis from Big Finish:
Peter Davison The Doctor Sarah Sutton Nyssa Tim Bentinck Nathaniel Whitlock
Rosanna Miles Phoebe Whitlock John Banks Silver Crow Francesca Hunt Hannah Bartholemew
Hugh Fraser Edwin Tremayne Geoffrey Breton Hector Tremayne
Hugh Fraser Edwin Tremayne Geoffrey Breton Hector Tremayne
One wouldn't normally expect to find elephants, gorillas and rhinoceroses roaming free in Suffolk in the year 1911. One wouldn't normally expect to find an extra-dimensional police box at the same time/space location either. Two aliens, named the Doctor and Nyssa, exit said box, only to find themselves pursued by a hungry lioness – for they've landed in the private hunting grounds of the famous explorer Nathaniel Whitlock, who's brought together a motley group of friends and acquaintances for a weekend's shooting.
But one of Whitlock's guests isn't all they seem. One of them wants the secrets of the Moonflesh, the mystic mineral looked after by Whitlock's retainer, a Native American known as Silver Crow. Because the Moonflesh is reputed to have the power to call down spirits from another realm…
…and soon, the hunters will become the hunted.
Written by Mark Morris
Hugh, me, Francesca, Tim, Rosanna, Geoffrey
Peter & Sarah
Directed by Ken Bentley
Hugh, me, Francesca, Tim, Rosanna, Geoffrey
Peter & Sarah
* * * * *
It's a funny old world. A couple of weeks ago and completely out of the blue, I was offered some voice-over work by Focalpoint Television, a production company I had applied to several years previously without success.
The work involved recording the narrative to an inter-active corporate training film for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The script was a tangle of jargon and extraordinarily tongue-twisty terminology with some multi-syllabic drug names thrown in for good measure; but in it's own strange way, was good fun and very satisfying to record. I'd love to say more, but given the commercial sensitivity of the content, I had to sign a 'Non Disclosure Agreement' and must remain silent on the subject. (!)
Don't worry, you haven't missed much and as an alternative, listening to Moonflesh should be much more entertaining - at least, I hope it is!
All for now, further updates coming soon!
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
2009 - 2014 and beyond...
My memories of that first day's recording are of course that it held a fair degree of trepidation, if not outright terror. After all, apart from working in a medium in which I had almost no experience, I'd also be working with 'famous people'. As things turned out, I needn't have worried.David Richardson greeted me warmly when I arrived at the studio and offered me some coffee (not all producers do that!). Similarly Nick Briggs made me feel very welcome and within a very short time in the studio with the Doctor, in this instance, the brilliant Colin Baker, I started to feel very much at home. And of course, there was also Toby's legendary lunch to look forward to!
The nature of working with Big Finish was established that day and has never wavered; David, Nick and Moat Studios' Toby Hrycek-Robinson create a very warm and conducive working environment and huge thanks go to them, as well as to Ken Bentley, Lisa Bowerman, Paul Spragg and Barnaby Edwards for making the last five years such a delight.
I consider myself fortunate indeed to have the privilege of knowing and working with such amazingly creative and talented people and look forward to, hopefully, many more adventures with the Big Finish crew.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Nekropolis trilogy
It's getting quite late in the day and I'm back in the studio tomorrow, so it's a 'crack of dawn' start and just a very quick update for the moment.
All three of the Nekropolis audio books are released tomorrow, Friday 21st, from Audible.co.uk, which includes, Nekropolis, Dead Streets and Dark War - there's much more about these books in previous postings, so I won't repeat any of that now; just to say, the audio covers are different to the original book covers and here they are:
All I can say about tomorrow's studio day is that I'll be teaming up with someone I haven't worked with for almost exactly 14 years; we'll be recording some Dr Who adventures and I'm really looking forward to it - despite the early start!
All three of the Nekropolis audio books are released tomorrow, Friday 21st, from Audible.co.uk, which includes, Nekropolis, Dead Streets and Dark War - there's much more about these books in previous postings, so I won't repeat any of that now; just to say, the audio covers are different to the original book covers and here they are:
All I can say about tomorrow's studio day is that I'll be teaming up with someone I haven't worked with for almost exactly 14 years; we'll be recording some Dr Who adventures and I'm really looking forward to it - despite the early start!
There's much more to mention over the next few days, but for now, that's all folks!
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Dr Who: Scavenger
I've begun many a posting with an expression of bemused surprise that the year has progressed so rapidly and this month is no different; March already - Spring is springing and the birds are singing etc etc. Curiously, the most popular post over the last several weeks has been last March's update on the release of Dr Who: The Seeds of War and by a considerable margin. I have no idea why that should be; maybe everyone really likes the photo of Bonnie???
Anyway, a whole year later, this March sees the release of Dr Who: Scavenger and here are some details from Big Finish:
Thursday 28 May 2071: the day the Anglo-Indian Salvage 2 rocket launches. Its mission: to clean up space; to remove from Earth’s orbit over a century’s worth of man-made junk…
From the viewing window of a nearby space station, the Doctor and Flip have a unique view of Salvage 2 as it sets about its essential task – and of the disaster that unfolds when Salvage 2 encounters something it’s not been programmed to deal with. Something not of human manufacture…
Back on Earth, the Doctor fights to save Flip from becoming part of a 500-year tragedy being played out in orbit, hundreds of miles above. And millions will die if he fails.
And to round off this posting, I thought I'd just mention that my final episode of 'Allo, 'Allo!, recorded in the summer of 1989, has just been repeated on BBC2. How strange to jump back in time, remembering many of the details of recording and musing on how much has happened in the interim, how many of those actors appearing in the show are no longer around, David Croft too - yet more fond memories...
Anyway, a whole year later, this March sees the release of Dr Who: Scavenger and here are some details from Big Finish:
Thursday 28 May 2071: the day the Anglo-Indian Salvage 2 rocket launches. Its mission: to clean up space; to remove from Earth’s orbit over a century’s worth of man-made junk…
From the viewing window of a nearby space station, the Doctor and Flip have a unique view of Salvage 2 as it sets about its essential task – and of the disaster that unfolds when Salvage 2 encounters something it’s not been programmed to deal with. Something not of human manufacture…
Back on Earth, the Doctor fights to save Flip from becoming part of a 500-year tragedy being played out in orbit, hundreds of miles above. And millions will die if he fails.
Colin Baker The Doctor Lisa Greenwood Flip Jackson
Anjli Mohindra Jyoti Cutler Tariq Bhatti Salim
Kate McEwen Jessica Allaway Tania Rodrigues Anarkali - Melissa - Isra Tech #2
John Banks Scavenger - Commander Gabbard - Isra Tech #1 - Security Guy
Written by William Gallagher
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
Directed by Nicholas Briggs
I have very fond memories of working on Scavenger, which we recorded last summer; in fact, day two of recording took place on my birthday. The company were particularly fun to be with and having discovered a mutual passion, I have a vague recollection of agreeing to open a shoe shop with Lisa and Anjli, although my feeling is that both Anjli and Lisa would want to keep the entire stock to wear themselves!
So, fond memories indeed and I'm really looking forward to hearing this story.
* * * * *
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As the time rolls merrily along, June isn't too far away and champing at the bit, just yesterday, Big Finish released a trailer for the forthcoming first series of Survivors - and here it is:
* * * * *
And to round off this posting, I thought I'd just mention that my final episode of 'Allo, 'Allo!, recorded in the summer of 1989, has just been repeated on BBC2. How strange to jump back in time, remembering many of the details of recording and musing on how much has happened in the interim, how many of those actors appearing in the show are no longer around, David Croft too - yet more fond memories...
Until next time, this is Nighthawk signing off - a bientot!
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The War Doctor
December 2015