Celebrating World Audio Drama Day 2023 ...

It's that time of year again ... when we celebrate all things AUDIO DRAMA!

It's 33 years since my very first AUDIO DRAMA/RADIO DRAMA a radio play called 'THE PEOPLE'S WOMAN' directed by the much missed PHILIP MARTIN for BBC RADIO all the way back in 1990... It was an important moment in my fledgling career and I'm very grateful to have continued working in audio drama for over 30 years now - huzzah!

I'm also grateful to now LECTURE & DIRECT students in the DARK ARTS OF AUDIO DRAMA at some of the countries leading universities and drama schools, long may that continue too! I get so much from passing whatever knowledge I've acquired over the years to the next generation of radio/audio actors ... Oh and I'm glad to say that I haven't stopped working myself in this world and I'm still learning!

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

'Mahabharata Now' - Episodes 3 & 4 - The saga continues on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 15th & 22nd October 2023 ...

I am delighted to be a small part within this RADIO ADAPTATION of 'THE MAHABHARATA', an epic that comprises one hundred thousand stanzas of verse divided into eighteen books, or parvas. It is the largest single literary work in existence. In Episodes 3 & 4 - Yash and Padma arrive in Manchester to begin their four year exile. I pop up as the WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR in Episode 3 and in Episode 4 I can be heard playing a myriad of characters ... 

You can listen to 'MAHABHARATA NOW' on Sunday 15th & 22nd October 2023 at 3pm on BBC RADIO 4 ...

As previously mentioned across some of my socials, the recording session was an extraordinary happening, bringing a whole new meaning to the idea of 'remote' recordings. The UK-based cast recorded from LONDON at THE SOUNDHOUSE studios, linked up to the MUMBAI cast some 4,500 MILES AWAY. It all worked a treat, amazing really with the added bonus that the productions carbon footprint would be tiny by avoiding those long plane flights!! 

'MAHABHARATA NOW' was written by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle, produced by Helen Quigley and Andrew Mark Sewell and the director was Jatinder Verma ...

Here are the full production credits ...

Cast:

Dhruv: Neil Bhoopalam

Yash: Tavish Bhattacharyya

Padma: Ira Dubey

Shaks: Vivek Madan

Karthik: Sukant Goel

Gopi: Mina Anwar

Nyra: Abir Abrar

Swati: Rina Fatania

Emmi: Ayla Wheatley

Landlord: Dean Harris

Andy: Kenny Blyth

Warehouse Supervisor: Sean Connolly

Other characters played by Abir Abrar, Omkar Kulkarni, Devika Shahani Punjabi and Prerna Chawla

Sound Supervisor (Mumbai): Ayush Ahuja

Sound Design and Post Production: Wilfredo Acosta

Original Music: Imran Ahmad

Written by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle

Producer (Mumbai): Nadir Khan

Producer(s): Helen Quigley and Andrew Mark Sewell

Director: Jatinder Verma

A B7 Media production for BBC Radio 4

It promises to be an enthralling couple of episodes, can't wait to hear it for the first time this Sunday ... 

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

FIREWORKS FLY in new B7 Media/BBC Radio 4 RADIO DRAMA - 'BARRED' - Saturday 6th Nov - BBC Radio 4 at 3pm ...

You can be sure of FIREWORKS when you tune in TOMORROW at 3pm on BBC RADIO 4 ... 'BARRED' is a contemporary thriller about a young black barrister trying to establish her career. 

TAMIKA (played by the wonderful KERRI MCLEAN) starts at Tudor Chambers full of hope and idealism - only to be confronted by some harsh truths about the broken criminal justice system and the integrity of some of her colleagues.

Rather surprisingly to me - I play a police officer for the very first time, I was almost certain that I had been an 'officer of the law' previously but no!!

The large cast includes; KERRI MCLEAN ('Line of Duty', 'Poldark'), SUSANNAH HARKER (perhaps best known playing Jane Bennet in the 1995 TV adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’), ANDREW LANCEL ('Cardiac Arrest', 'Coronation Street'), ALI BASTIAN ('Hollyoaks', 'The Bill, 'Doctors') and ANDREW WINCOTT (Adam Macy in 'The Archers') who I had previously worked alongside on some video game but more recently (but still nearly a decade ago on 'The Archers') where I (as KEITH HORROBIN) was involved with the gang who hospitalised his character ADAM! There is of course a supremely talented supporting cast too ...

It's a cracking HOUR LONG DRAMA and I am privileged to be a part of it. After its first transmission TOMORROW it'll be available ON DEMAND on the BBC iPlayer here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011bg6

It was also extra special as we recorded it back in an actual radio drama studio ...

The drama was written by THANDI LUBIMBI and RICHARD KURTI and was directed by ANDREW MARK SEWELL.

'BARRED' is a B7 MEDIA production for BBC RADIO 4.

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Celebrating World Audio Drama Day 2021!!

CELEBRATING WORLD AUDIO DRAMA DAY 2021!! As an actor, audio drama has been such an important part of my professional life for over 30 years now. THANK GOODNESS FOR IT!! 

I love it that much - I also teach it at some of the country's best universities and drama schools!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

GREAT TO BE BACK in an 'ACTUAL' RECORDING STUDIO working opposite REAL LIVE actors!

I'm so delighted to have been back in a PHYSICAL RECORDING STUDIO last week recording a terrific NEW radio play for BBC RADIO 4 produced by the lovely folks at B7 MEDIA ... Here I am next to 'Poldark' and 'Line of Duty' actress KERRI MCLEAN, just one member of the esteemed cast! 

It was a great day at THE SOUNDHOUSE STUDIOS (ALL COVID SECURE!) in LONDON which reminded me why being 'physically in a studio' is SOOO different to recording remotely from your own home studio. I know which one I prefer!! What was extra lovely was the fact that I hadn't worked professionally with any of the actors or production team before ...

The play itself is a very powerful piece of writing by THANDHI LUBIMBI & RICHARD KURTI, can't wait for everyone to hear it later in the year. More news on the full cast and the TX date in the coming months. STAY TUNED!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Rose Bruford College actors chase dream BBC Radio Drama prize!

The latest batch of young radio actors from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE representing the college at the BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION 2019 ...

Once again I am more than delighted to reveal the students I will be coaching from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE for next years BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION.

LAURA DUNNION (top left) - KHAI SHAW-McGEE (top right)

HARRIETT O'GRADY (bottom left) - MATT WAKEFORD (bottom right)

The prize as ever for the eventual winner(s) is an amazing FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with the BBC RADIO DRAMA REPERTORY COMPANY ... 

The standard at the auditions this year was top notch which made it extra challenging to make the final decision - but here they are and a rather splendid foursome they are too! Lots of work and fun ahead - I'm very much looking forward to working with them next year. 

BBC Radio Drama family REUNITED as the extraordinary WW1 Drama Serial 'HOME FRONT' comes to an end ...

SEAN CONNOLLY, LUCY HUTCHINSON and BELLA HAMBLIN aka The Moore family in the BBC Radio Drama serial 'HOME FRONT' are reunited ...

It was a very special evening for myself and my actress wife BELLA HAMBLIN last night as the BBC's First World War radio drama serials 'HOME FRONT' and 'TOMMIES' came to an end ... It was of course an entirely appropriate time to celebrate the achievements of both dramas as it fell on the eve of Remembrance Sunday and the centenary of the Armistice.

It was lovely to celebrate our part in the FOUR YEAR SPANNING drama 'HOME FRONT' playing Folkestone Bakers, husband and wife ERNIE & HILDA MOORE (played by my REAL WIFE - BELLA HAMBLIN) with our lovely daughter JESSIE played by LUCY HUTCHINSON and catch up with the many people we had worked with in that time. Lucy will probably hate me for sharing this but have a look below for a picture of us all in the first year of the show back in 2014!

BELLA HAMBLIN, LUCY HUTCHINSON and SEAN CONNOLLY - The Moore Family during recording on the first season of the BBC Radio serial 'HOME FRONT' ...

The setting for the celebration was the BBC's BROADCASTING HOUSE in a VERY WET London ... Moving speeches of thanks and appreciation about both 'HOME FRONT' and 'TOMMIES' mixed in with a smattering of poetry and song, made for a rather splendid evening! Re-acquainting ourselves with friends and colleagues was a real treat, including meeting up with one of my 'ARCHERS' sisters, actress and voice artist SUSIE RIDDELL (see below), who also appeared in 'HOME FRONT' ... So I had the pleasure of being with my 'HOME FRONT' radio wife and daughter but also my 'ARCHERS' sister, confused yet??!!

SUSIE RIDDELL, SEAN CONNOLLY and BELLA HAMBLIN, radio family at the BBC ...

Recorded at BBC BIRMINGHAM since 2014, the last ever episode of 'HOME FRONT' was aired yesterday, SATURDAY 10th NOVEMBER. The sprawling, 561 episode drama, transmitted on BBC RADIO 4, was mostly set in three locations in the UK; Folkestone, Tyneside and South Devon. The entire series, overseen by JESSICA DROMGOOLE, will be available to listen to for the next TEN YEARS via the BBC iPlayer here - also check out the new BBC APP - SOUNDS ... It's been special!

To quote Harold Pinter's 'The Caretaker' "What are they doing at Sidcup?" Well at Rose Bruford College there's all sorts!!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with some of the Year 3 BA (Hons) Acting students from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE after completing their intensive introduction to radio drama.

I've once again just finished working with 45 talented students from top drama school ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE exploring the delights and disciplines of working in Radio Drama.

Over a number of weeks, I listened to a 135 solo pieces spanning writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and Harold Pinter (more on him later!) and worked on 14 separate scenes from playwrights such as Neil Simon, Tom Wells and Simon Stevens.

The students brought a great energy into the recording studio which certainly translated into some very fine performances. It was a great joy directing them in their sessions, they always worked hard, they were attentive, enthusiastic and more than happy to have a play! I was impressed  by how many of them achieved those golden moments in studio, performances that make you say ... "Aha, that's what the scene is all about and that's the essence of their character's story!" I look forward to working with them again later in the year to continue our search for more 'golden' moments!

Oh yes .. what was that about Harold Pinter?! This flagstone quote from Harold Pinter's 'The Caretaker' lies just in front of the main entrance to the college. It's a direct quote from Act One of the play by the character Aston and poses the ultimate question about Sidcup. Rose Bruford College provides one of the possible answers ... 

Saying a fond farewell to my SECOND BATCH of Radio Drama students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - They're sounding great!!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Group 1 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2017-2018.

A few months ago I said goodbye to my SECOND BATCH of YEAR 2 BA (HONS) Acting students at the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE. Once again it was a joy teaching these talented and committed young actors all about the disciplines of working in RADIO DRAMA, this time in the wonderful new recording studios at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Group 2 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2017-2018.

Year 2 BA (Hons) Acting Students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Radio Drama class 2017-2018 explore a radio drama piece in the studio ...

As my FIRST BATCH - click here for their Graduation page - prepare to go out into the big bad world of Acting, I'm very much looking forward to working with my THIRD BATCH this coming October ...

Young Rose Bruford College actors chase top BBC Radio Drama prize!

Young radio actors from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE representing the college at the BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION 2018 ...  

I am delighted to reveal the students I will be coaching from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE for next years BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION.

SAM BAKER-JONES (top left) - POPPY FARDELL (top right)

RACHEL BENSON (bottom left) - CHOMBA TAULO (bottom right)

The prize for the eventual winner of course is an amazing FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA ... If you are regular listener to BBC Radio Drama then you will probably have heard one of last years winners TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG in multiple dramas this year!! Tayla is also a graduate of Rose Bruford College and I had the great privilege to help coach him last year, so no pressure then Sam, Poppy, Rachel and Chomba!!

They really are super-talented foursome and I'm very much looking forward to working with them next year.

All change at BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) as it becomes the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting!!

Actor and Voice Artist Sean Connolly outside his old drama school, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting, formerly BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) starting another year of teaching Radio Drama ...

Blimey that went quickly! It seems like only yesterday that I had started my first academic year teaching Radio Drama at BSA (Birmingham School of Drama)! Well, just embarked on my second year with a whole new shiny batch of drama students at my alma mater. Exciting times ahead too, as BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) has joined forces with the (ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE) to become the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting ... It makes complete sense to join these two esteemed training centres of excellence for music and acting. It is however tinged with a little sadness for me and probably all of my fellow BSA ex-students going all the way back to 1936, as of course the name change means no more 'Birmingham School of ...' Onwards and upwards!!

I really enjoyed my first year teaching at RBC - Acting, particularly seeing the progression of the students over the nearly six months I was with them. So massively looking forward to instilling my love for the dark art of radio drama with whole new group of Second Years!

Exciting too of course that the brand new £57 million facility of Birmingham Conservatoire also received its Royal Patronage earlier this year when HRH The Earl of Wessex became its first Royal Patron.

From the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire website: 

Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Birmingham Conservatoire said:

"I am delighted to announce that HRH The Earl of Wessex has accepted Birmingham Conservatoire's invitation to become its Royal Patron. This is an enormous accolade to receive from His Royal Highness and is a testimony to the wonderful achievements of our team at the Conservatoire."

The announcement not only acknowledges the artistic excellence of Birmingham Conservatoire, currently ranked top of all UK conservatoires for student satisfaction, but also further reinforces the City’s reputation as home to world-class music and performing arts.

Great to be part of it all ...

Flying in to the North Lakes for some Stage Radio Play Fun!!

Greatly looking forward to heading up to the North Lakes next week for a splendid time of fun and frolics! 'THE EARTH FROM THE AIR' by SHARON GOSLING, is a beautifully written, two-hander stage-radio play which I will be performing with my lovely wife BELLA HAMBLIN for TWO NIGHTS ONLY! on FRI 27th and SAT 28th OCTOBER in CROGLIN VILLAGE HALL. All proceeds from the two special performances will go towards the 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF CROGLIN HALL APPEAL, so a great cause!

'THE EARTH FROM THE AIR' is the story of what happens when GABE (played by Bella), a woman with a fear of flying, confronts her fears by trying to learn to fly out of Carlisle airport. I play HUW, her flying instructor. The play also skillfully weaves some history from the surrounding area into the narrative.

BELLA HAMBLIN and SEAN CONNOLLY photographed by IAN DAVIES for a project called #BrumCreatives ...

Sharon says "Because the play was written for radio, that’s how it will be performed, as a ‘live radio play’, that means the actors will have their scripts with them and their performances will be augmented by sound effects and music that has been composed specially for this production. We’ve had great support from the local community as well Eden Arts, the council and several local businesses. All the proceeds will be going to the Village Hall, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, to help keep it going as an important centre of village life for another 80 years."

As mentioned above, there are just two performances of this hour-long ‘live radio play’, on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of October. Tickets are £12 each, and include dinner before the show: attendees, who should arrive for 7.30pm, will receive a Pie and a Pint, as well as the Play!

Tickets are available from WITHNAIL BOOKS, at the Brunswick Yard in Penrith (opposite Booths), or online at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-earth-from-the-air-tickets-38072940189

SHARON GOSLING is a successful author, her books include the trilogy 'The Diamond Thief' (which won the Redbridge Children’s Award in 2014), 'The Ruby Airship' and 'The Sapphire Cutlass', the teen horror novel 'FIR', and official TV tie-in titles for the popular CBBC series, 'Wolf Blood'. Sharon writes books and articles about television and film, and has written, produced and directed audio dramas. Sharon and I first met when we both worked for 'DOCTOR WHO' Audio specialists BIG FINISH ...

One last hurrah for ERNIE & HILDA MOORE in SEASON 11 of BBC RADIO 4's 'HOME FRONT' ...

If you've been following BBC Radio 4's First World War drama serial 'HOME FRONT' you will probably know (SPOILER ALERT!) ... that in SEASON 10 my character for over THREE YEARS - ERNIE MOORE and my wife HILDA MOORE (played by real-life wife BELLA HAMBLIN) were tragically killed in the historic BOMBING OF FOLKESTONE on 25th MAY 1917, leaving our daughter JESSIE MOORE parent-less!

Well, if you are keen reader of the RADIO TIMES you might have noticed that both ERNIE and HILDA appear in the cast list as SEASON 11 started it's run on 31st JULY!
If you'd like to know how this is possible, then click http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08yfhs7 to listen to yesterday's episode called '2nd August 1917 - Jessie Moore' with a description as follows;

"On this day in 1917, the heaviest rainfall in 30 years fell on Passchendaele, and in Folkestone, Jessie lives under a cloud."

Season 11 runs from July 31st through to September 22nd 2017 ...

                        

There's also a terrific new way to explore the series thus far on the BBC website called the HOME FRONT STORY EXPLORER you can find it here http://homefront.ch.bbc.co.uk/ ... There's some great content to explore and gives an excellent overview of the major themes of the series as well as some really terrific artwork on the mini-site including pictorial imaginings of ERNIE MOORE (above) and my wife HILDA (left).

If you haven't already listened to it yet or maybe you just missed it, there was a marvellous 45 minute one-off edition called  'HOME FRONT - A LIGHTENING' written by Sarah Daniels. The episode marks the centenary of Britain's first Gotha Air Raid, which devastated Folkestone on 25 May 1917. Weaving real historical figures and testimony with the stories and characters of Home Front. Here's the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08mjsvj

It's been a real privilege to be involved in such a ground-breaking radio series, made all the more special doing it alongside my wife HILDA, sorry ... Bella!! 

'Real-life' husband & wife return to play a 'fictional' married couple in BBC Radio 4's 'HOME FRONT' ...

Real-life husband and wife; Sean Connolly & Bella Hamblin also play fictional married couple, Ernie & Hilda Moore in BBC Radio 4's wartime series 'HOME FRONT' ...

It has been a privilege as ever to be involved in BBC Radio 4's flagship wartime radio drama series 'HOME FRONT' ... but doubly so, as I was lucky enough to be once again, sharing the microphone with my lovely real 'and' radio wife BELLA HAMBLIN. We play ERNIE & HILDA MOORE, who run MOORE BAKERY in Folkestone, 'helped' by our daughter JESSIE, played by LUCY HUTCHINSON.

SEASON 10 of 'HOME FRONT' starts this coming Monday, EASTER MONDAY - 17th APRIL 2017 at 12.04PM on BBC RADIO 4 ... Of course we're not at liberty to divulge any storyline information, NO SPOILERS FROM US!! You'll just have to TUNE IN on the 17th ...

A reminder that the whole series, since it started in 2014, is available to listen to via the BBC's iPlayer.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Very proud! - TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG wins Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 ...

Outside BBC Broadcasting House - Rose Bruford College's Carleton Hobbs Award team for 2017 was (from left to right) Daisy Adams, Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, Jake Lampert and Henry Rundle ...

I can now announce the wonderful news that one of the students I helped coach from Rose Bruford College, has only gone and won one of this years CARLETON HOBBS BURSARY AWARDS ... MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG!! 

Alongside the wonderfully talented (Theatre Director, Radio Drama Producer, Acting Coach and Author) MARINA CALDERONE, I had the absolute pleasure of helping coach this year's competition entrants.

It's was a very successful competition for the whole team from ROSE BRUFORD, in particular of course for one the FIVE WINNERS - Tayla ... Not forgetting that HENRY RUNDLE also received a special commendation for one of his Solo Pieces, as well as being picked out for his noteworthy contribution across the whole competition. In addition TAYLA and JAKE LAMPERT also received special commendations for their Duologue piece. And finally TAYLA also received another commendation for one his Solo Pieces ... Well you can probably see a pattern developing here, no surprise then 'how' Tayla came by his terrific win ..!!

It's been a really enjoyable time helping the students take the first steps into the wonderful world of radio drama. Good luck to them all as they enter this crazy profession!! Listen out for Talya in the Autumn on your radios as he starts his FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA ... 

Drama students take to the mic at the BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award Competition 2017 ...

Third year students representing Rose Bruford College at this years BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 competition (from left to right) are Tayla Ebong, Henry Rundle, Jake Lampert and Daisy Adams with coach Sean Connolly ... 

I've had the great privilege helping coach this years BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 competition entrants from top drama school ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE. Representing the school are the very talented foursome of; Tayla Ebong, Henry Rundle, Jake Lampert and Daisy Adams ... The competition takes place in London from today Monday 6th through to Thursday 9th March 2017.

What's the BBC Radio Carelton Hobbs Bursary competition I hear you ask ..? Well here's the official description from the BBC website:

"Named after one of Radio’s most distinguished actors, the Awards have been run by BBC Radio Drama for over 60 years. The bursary is aimed at students graduating from accredited UK drama schools and aims to create a cohort of distinctive and versatile radio voices for the BBC Radio Drama Company. Winning a Bursary offers a great opportunity for students to extending their training in a unique acting environment - one where they’ll work with the best actors and writers in the country on a wide range of contemporary and classic plays."

Rather wonderfully the winners of the competition land a FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA! What a great way to kick-start their career ...

Good luck to all the drama school students taking part in this years competition but especially those I've been working with at Rose Bruford.

"There's a green light coming!"

Saying goodbye to my first batch of Radio Drama students from BSA ... COMING SOON to a studio near you!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) Group 1 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2016-2017.

It's been a very rewarding 5 months working with the Year 2 BA (Hons) Acting students at the BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OF ACTING (BSA) exploring the joys and challenges of working in RADIO DRAMA.

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) Group 2 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2016-2017.

As mentioned in previous posts my time with the students has been particularly special being an ex-student of BSA myself , some THIRTY YEARS AGO!! Hopefully I've prepared them a little for the potential RADIO DRAMA part of their career ... Here's a montage of shots during a 'wild track' session (crowd scenes etc), great fun was had!!

I wish them all well, as they head for their third and final year, then into this 'crazy' business!!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY rehearsing students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) in a RADIO DRAMA session ...

"I think I was the only one I hadn't heard of!" - 'BOLLYWOOD JANE' gets a radio repeat ...

 JOANNE FROGGATT, SEAN CONNOLLY and KATHERINE DOW BLYTON some of the cast of AMANDA WHITTINGTON'S radio adaptation of 'BOLLYWOOD JANE' in 2007 ...

A lovely surprise to start the week ... BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA are repeating the 2008 radio adaptation of AMANDA WHITTINGTON'S successful stage play 'BOLLYWOOD JANE' ...

Amongst the cast are GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER and 'DOWNTON ABBEY' star JOANNE FROGGATT, 'EMMERDALE' actress KATHERINE DOW BLYTON, SACHA DHAWAN from 'IN THE CLUB' and 'MR SELFRIDGE' and 'CASUALTY' and 'STELLA' actor PAL ARON ... Quite the starry cast, I think I was the only one I hadn't heard of!!

PAL ARON and SACHA DHAWAN complete the cast of AMANDA WHIITINGTON'S radio play 'BOLLYWOOD JANE' ...

So when's it on ..? Well the first of the 5 EPISODES went out this afternoon on BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA but is instantly available on the BBC iPLAYER RADIO, the rest of the 15 MINUTE DRAMA instalments coming on Tuesday through to Friday of this week at 2.30PM and 2.30AM daily. There is also an Special OMNIBUS of ALL 5 EPISODES on SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER @ 6AM & 1PM, then MONDAY 28TH NOVEMBER @ 1AM. So .. no excuse not to give a listen.

I play MAC, a six foot plus - well meaning builder in the drama ('anything' is possible in radio drama!). I have very happy memories of the recordings back in 2007. Original air date was in 2008.

Director was KATE CHAPMAN ...