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

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. 

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 ...

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 ...

The Circle of Life: Going back to Drama School 30 years on!!

Actor and Voice Artist Sean Connolly outside his old drama school BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) about to embark on teaching Radio Drama ...

I am more than a little delighted to announce that I began teaching Radio Drama at my old drama school yesterday, the Birmingham School of Acting ...

In the lead up to my first day, it had not escaped my notice that it was nearly 30 YEARS AGO TO THE DAY that I started MY training at the then lengthier named Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, back in 1986 ...

Well several name changes and site moves later, I arrived at the snappier titled BSA to teach the YEAR 2 Acting BA (Hons) students all about the dark arts of radio drama!

The building may have changed but the atmosphere inside seemed familiar and although this time I was there to teach, I really did 'almost' feel like a drama student all over again!!

I am happy to report that the young actors I worked with yesterday were all very keen to learn a brand new discipline for them ...

I'm really looking forward to sharing the knowledge I have acquired over the last 27 years ...

There was also that awful moment in class yesterday, realising that when I started my training in 1986, none of them had even been born ... Circle of Life PA!!!!!

Next generation of Voice Actors learn the tricks of the trade ...

Birmingham voice artist Sean Connolly with Year 12 Acting students from the Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) ...

Over the last week I have had the privilege of working with the very talented Year 12 Acting Pathway students at BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy). I was invited to deliver a workshop/masterclass on 'Acting to Microphone' as part of their BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Acting.

We got through a fair bit of theory but the focus was really on the 'doing' .. They all had the opportunity to work with scripts from two very different areas/styles of audio drama, firstly a scene featuring the Horrobin family from BBC Radio 4's 'The Archers' and a scene from the Audio Adventures of Doctor Who from Big Finish ... I was particularly impressed with the level of performances from the students.

BOA students performing to the microphone during the 'Acting to Microphone' workshop ...

It's been a terrific week working with these energetic, committed young performers exploring the joys and challenges of voice acting.