Bringing in 2020 with SHAUN THE SHEEP and friends!!

Yet again both the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD winning 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' AND the OSCAR NOMINATED 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' from AARDMAN ANIMATIONS will be aired this festive season ... This time, rather than a Christmas screening, 'FARMER'S LLAMAS' can be seen on NEW YEARS EVE morning at 10.50AM on BBC 1 and the 'MOVIE' can be seen this year on NEW YEARS DAY at 9.30AM also on BBC 1 ... It's become a Christmas tradition to show both SHAUN's on the telly - long may this tradition continue - LOVELY!!!!

Always so proud to have been a part of both animations - if you haven't seen them before (where have you been?!) then you're in for a real treat!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAVE A GREAT 2020!!

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING: Masters Students complete a weeks intensive training in RADIO DRAMA ...

Actor, voice artist and radio drama Lecturer/Director SEAN CONNOLLY with Masters Students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING after completing a week's intensive training on RADIO DRAMA ...  

I've just spent a terrific week at the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING working with their MASTERS ACTING STUDENTS exploring the world of RADIO DRAMA ...

Masters Acting Students working on a group scene in the rather spendid state-of-the-art ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING recording studios ...

There was a lot of talent on show from a truly international group of students who really threw themselves in, quite literally at times!! It'll be interesting to see how they all progress as they continue their training ...

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Birmingham Film Festival Gala Awards Dinner 2019 ...

Cast, crew and friends of 'POTATOES' at the Birmingham Film Festival Gala Dinner (left to right) BELLA HAMBLIN (my lovely actress wife), SEAN CONNOLLY (Lead Actor), ROY PALMER (writer and director), LOUISE OSBOURNE (Lead Actress) and PAUL WITHERS (Sound) ...

A splendid evening was had last Saturday at the Gala Awards Dinner for the 2019 BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL held at the rather swanky MacDonald Burlington Hotel in unsurprisingly ... Birmingham.

A couple of films I appeared in were nominated 5 times in total ...

Firstly, writer and director ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' concerning male domestic violence was nominated in the BEST SHORT FILM and BEST LOCAL FILM categories ...

The second film I was lucky enough to be in, received THREE NOMINATIONS this year ... JON PEGG'S second installment 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' ... was nominated for BEST ENSEMBLE, BEST LOCAL FILM and BEST PILOT ...

Some of the cast of 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' at this years Birmingham Film Festival (left to right) KEIR POUNTNEY (Actor), LOUISE OSBOURNE (Actress - AGAIN!), JON PEGG (Writer and Drector), KIA PEGG (Actress), SEAN CONNOLLY (Actor) and RICHIE WOODHALL (Actor) ...

An early arrival shot from the Gala Awards Dinner with one of the festival organisers DEAN WILLIAM'S (left) who makes a memorable cameo appearance in the 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' with KEIR POUNTNEY, KIA PEGG, SEAN CONNOLLY and LOUISE OSBOURNE ...

It was a truly great evening but ultimately both films came away empty-handed - the standard was very high so we were in good company ... here's to next year!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

A HAT-TRICK of films at the Birmingham Film Festival 2019 ...

LOUISE OSBOURNE and SEAN CONNOLLY in a scene from ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' ...

As the saying goes "You wait for ages for a bus - then three come at once!" ... I'm delighted to share the news that in much the same way, I've never been in anything screened at the BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL (1st-10th November) but at this years festival I am in THREE FILMS!!!

The image above and below are from one of those films 'POTATOES' ... a powerful short film written and directed by ROY PALMER on the subject of MALE DOMESTIC ABUSE ... Roy assembled a great team including my lovely co-star LOUISE OSBOURNE, can't wait to share it with everyone. 

SEAN CONNOLLY in another scene from ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' ...

'POTATOES' has also been nominated for TWO AWARDS at the festival - BEST SHORT FILM and BEST LOCAL FILM ...

BLOCK H - SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 12.00PM TICKETS AVALABLE here ...

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Whilst I don't APPEAR in the next film I do provide LOTS of VOICE OVER CHARACTERS for it ...

SEAN CONNOLLY provides multiple VOICE OVER CHARACTERS for producer and director GARETH KNOWLES' exciting short film 'SAVING GRACE' ...

A little over a year ago I announced my involvement in truly extraordinary short film called 'SAVING GRACE' by GARETH KNOWLES at QUIRKY CAMERA PRODUCTIONS. Director and producer Gareth has secured the talents of some of the UK's biggest screen stars including SUE JOHNSTON perhaps best known as BARBARA ROYLE in the classic BBC comedy 'THE ROYLE FAMILY' but is also very well known for 'WAKING THE DEAD' and 'DOWNTON ABBEY', BAFTA AWARD-WINNING actor JASON WATKINS known for roles in the BBC satirical comedy 'W1A', Channel 4's comedy 'TROLLIED' and on the big screen the 'NATIVITY' series of Christmas-based films. Completing the hat-trick of high profile names in the film is HARRY POTTER star DAVID BRADLEY, David is of course instantly recognisable as Hogwarts's Caretaker ARGUS FILCH as well as playing WALDER FREY in 'GAME OF THRONES', he is also well known for playing William Harnell's FIRST DOCTOR in a number of episodes of 'DOCTOR WHO'. The film also introduces young actress ERIN KNOWLES ... 

'SAVING GRACE' written by FELICE KNOWLES has already garnered impressive attention and awards from the L.A. INDEPENDENT SHORTS AWARDS and it's selection for the BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL further emphasises it's quality.

BLOCK A - SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 10:00AM - TICKETS AVALABLE here ...

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The third and final film I am involved in is JON PEGG'S dystopian 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' the follow up to the wildly successful 'MFATWE' ...

As previously mentioned in an earlier blogpost, 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS', set in a post-apocalyptic Birmingham follows a group of survivors as they navigate the uncertainty of 'OUTSIDE' ... When forced to leave their safe-haven in Part 2, they are caught by well ... ME and MY LOT!! More than that I cannot divulge, why not come along and see for yourself! I might, 'possibly' do nasty things to British former WBC Super-Middleweight Boxing Champion - RICHIE WOODHALL, 'possibly'??!!

SEAN CONNOLLY (Little Tim) and MILTON ROWE (Big Tim) and their gang in a scene from 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' ...

'MFATWE - PART 2' is up for THREE AWARDS at this years festival; BEST LOCAL FILM, BEST ENSEMBLE and BEST PILOT ...

BLOCK M - MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 6.00PM - TICKETS AVAILABLE here ...

There lots to enjoy at this years festival - come on down to the BIG SCREEN at MILLENIUM POINT ...

EXCITING VOICE OVERS for TURNER PRIZE-WINNING artist MARK LECKEY's NEW 2019 EXHIBITION at LONDON'S TATE BRITAIN ...

Turner Prize-winning Artist MARK LECKEY, SEAN CONNOLLY, JASPER WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT and SALLY DAVEY just after recording VOICE OVERS for Mark's BRAND NEW installation ...

What a splendid time was had in a hot recording studio last week in London ... The occasion was recording audio elements for the TURNER PRIZE-WINNING ARTIST MARK LECKEY'S new installation for LONDON'S TATE BRITAIN with fellow VO Artists JASPER WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT and SALLY DAVEY ...

The overall exhibition, comprised of new and existing works is called 'O' MAGIC PIECE OF BLEAKNESS' which runs at TATE BRITAIN from SEPTEMBER 24th 2019 through to JANUARY 5th 2020 ... We were recording audio elements for one of Mark's new pieces for the exhibition called 'BALLAD OF THE BRIDGE' which promises to be quite extraordinary, if the VOICE OVER SESSION was anything to go by!

Here's a link to the TATE BRITAIN website describing a little of what to 'expect' from the exhibition - basically ... EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!

'O' MAGIC PIECE OF BLEAKNESS' - https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/mark-leckey

Make sure you get down to the wonderful TATE BRITAIN and catch what promises to be an unmissable exhibition ...

Cast & Crew Premiere Screening of 'Making Friends As The World Ends - Part 2' @ IMAX Cinema - Millennium Point ...

Most of the cast of 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' - from left to right - Front row: Loiuse Osbourne, Jenny Stokes, Director/Writer Jon Pegg, Sean Connolly, Kia Pegg, Tamsin Hunt & Keir Pountney - Back row: Jack Woodhall, Jake Woodhall, Milton Rowe, Richie Woodhall, Paul 'Soggy' Counihan & Steve Gee at the IMAX Cinema, Millennium Point, Birmingham ...

Mid-June saw the cast and crew Premiere Screening of writer and director JON PEGG'S dystopian epic 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' at the enormous IMAX Cinema at Birmingham's Millennium Point. This second installment takes up directly where 'MFATWE - Part 1' finishes. Part 1 has found tremendous success on the festival circuit, let's hope Part 2 does as well??!! Judging by the audience reaction on the night it stands a good chance!

SEAN CONNOLLY (Little Tim) and MILTON ROWE (Big Tim) and their gang in a scene from 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' ... 

'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS', set in a post-apocalyptic Birmingham follows a group of survivors as they navigate the uncertainty of 'OUTSIDE' ... When forced to leave their safe-haven in Part 2, they are caught by well ... ME and MY LOT!! More than that I cannot divulge, apart from the fact that I might, 'possibly' do nasty things to British former WBC Super-Middleweight Boxing Champion - RICHIE WOODHALL, 'possibly'??!!

The Q&A after the screening of both Part 1 & 2 of 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS' with SEAN CONNOLLY and MILTON ROWE on the BIG SCREEN ...

What a thrill to be asked to take part in the Q&A after the screening. As you can see from the above picture, the screen is HUGE, apparently it's as tall as a five storey building and as wide as four buses nose to tail!!! Talking of huge ... queue MILTON ROWE who plays my side-kick BIG TIM who stands at 6 FEET 9 INCHES, nearly a FOOT AND A HALF taller than me .. Thank goodness we were sitting down!!

It's a wrap! The incredibly talented cast of 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' complete filming during Twixmas 2018 ...

Here's to 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 3'!!!!

OUT IN JULY - Re-uniting with the SIXTH DOCTOR in a new BIG FINISH ADVENTURE - 'Memories Of A Tyrant' ...

The cover for the new SIXTH DOCTOR ADVENTURE from BIG FINISH - 'Memories Of A Tyrant' ...

I'm more than a little delighted to announce that I recently had the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the SIXTH DOCTOR - COLIN BAKER and his companion PERI played as ever by the wonderful NICOLA BRYANT. 

The occasion was of course to record a BRAND NEW ADVENTURE from the fine folk at BIG FINISH called 'MEMORIES OF A TYRANT', part of the regular DOCTOR WHO MONTHLY RANGE - written by ROLAND MOORE and directed by JOHN AINSWORTH.

So what's it all about and hear you cry ..?

Without giving too much away, here is the official blurb from the BIG FINISH website.

"What if you’d committed a truly dreadful crime but couldn’t remember?

The Doctor takes Peri to the Memory Farm – a state of the art space station where hidden memories can be harvested and analysed. To their surprise, they find the station in lock-down and all its resources dedicated to probing the memories of an elderly man. Garius Moro may, or may not, have been responsible for the deaths of billions of people many years ago, but he simply can’t remember.

The assembled representatives of two opposing factions, each with their own agenda, anxiously wait for the truth to be unlocked from Moro’s mind. But when a memory does eventually surface, everyone is surprised to learn that it is of Peri..."

John assembled a great cast for this FOUR-PART ADVENTURE which is RELEASED THIS JULY, including Diane Keen (Varish), Caleb Frederick (Offram), John Green (Otwoe), Joseph Mydell (Garius Moro), Charlotte Strevens (Naras) and Steven Wickham (Grisk / Venorg). Oh I nearly forgot ... I play KENNEDY - Head of Security on the Memory Farm! and that's ALL you're getting out of me at this point!!

It's always a pleasure to work alongside Colin and Nicola but it was a particular thrill to meet and work with DIANE KEEN (below) having been a big fan of her classic television comedy series' 'THE CUCKOO WALTZ' and 'RINGS ON THEIR FINGERS' and of course latterly spending NINE YEARS on the daytime television series 'DOCTORS' (I'm surprised we hadn't met before!) ...

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with DIANE KEEN during a break from recording 'Memories Of A Tyrant' for BIG FINISH ...

More details to follow, nearer the time of release. It's sure to be a good one, a great time was had over the two days in the studio ... Check back soon!