'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

News Blog Stats for the LAST TWELVE MONTHS and for ALL OF TIME!! Thanks so much again for the VIEWS ...

Thought I'd have a belated trawl through the figures for my NEWS BLOG for the LAST TWELVE MONTHS as well as revisiting the ALL TIME STATS, as I haven't done that for a few years now ... so just for a bit of fun, here goes!

We start with the ALL TIME STATS which I think are pretty good, just FIFTEEN shy of 54,000 VIEWS since I started it! In 2021 the overall figures were 38,565 so the blog has attracted 15,420 views in about a year an half!!

The reach of my NEWS BLOG has always amazed me ...far flung places like Poland, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Ukraine and Japan and not forgetting the MYSTERIOUS 'UNKNOWN REGION' as described by Blogger! And for some reason which I can't quite fathom SINGAPORE are now the third biggest visitor!!

Next are the figures for the LAST TWELVE MONTHS, approximately August 2022 to the end of August 2023 ...

Over the last twelve months, I've been heartened that the blog continues to reach the parts other blogs might not reach... Czechia, India, New Zealand, Switzerland and the FIVE PEOPLE in each of the following countries who have also paid a visit; Austria, Spain and South Korea ... And once again the surprise inclusion of SINGAPORE as the TOP VISITOR over the last eighteen months ...

For the last year (apart from Singapore) views have shrunk a little, largely down to my lack of posting, I shall try and do better!!

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

 Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

ANOTHER Classic British Sci-Fi is OUT NOW - 'Survivors - New Dawn 3' from BIG FINISH!!

 

The original ‘SURVIVORS’ was a British post-apocalyptic fiction drama television series created by TERRY NATION and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC, that broadcast from 1975 to 1977. It concerns the plight of a group of people who have survived an apocalyptic plague pandemic (frighteningly prophetic!), which was accidentally released by a Chinese scientist and quickly spread across the world via air travel.

In 2014, BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS released the first four-episode volume of an audio drama expansion of 'Survivors', with CAROLYN SEYMOUR, IAN MCCULLOCH, and LUCY FLEMING reprising their screen roles. 

In this 3 episode latest audio instalment, 'Survivors: New Dawn 3' (this time starring CAROLYN SEYMOUR, and LUCY FLEMING), I was (as ever), delighted to be asked to play a fair few cameo roles across the box set, including put upon government minister MIKE FERGUSON.

In 3.1 The Turning Part 1: food shortages threaten the stability of the New Federal Government. Prime Minister Celia Tate clings to power and Robin Page - once a thorn in her side and now a minister - becomes involved in an uprising to depose her.

Once again, the world is changing and the best Abby and Jenny can hope for is to survive.

A really terrific cast deliver the chillingly believable world of 'SURVIVORS' ...

Here's the full cast list of 10.3 'Survivors: New Dawn 3' written and directed by KEN BENTLEY ... I had worked with quite a few of the voice cast previously which was rather nice.

Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant)

Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards)

Tom Alexander (Former-Ranger / Cleric)

Daisy Badger (Debra Adams)

Sean Connolly (Mike Ferguson / Groom)

Mark Elstob (Andrew / Terry Matthews)

Jonathan Keeble (Mark Osborne)

Belinda Lang (Celia Tate)

Hannah Raymond-Cox (Boo / Judy Lawson)

David Shaw-Parker (John/Harold Smith)

Enzo Squillino Jnr (Phil Harris)

Sam Stafford (Robin Page)

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Spring is sprung - Grass is ris, I wonder where EZRA is? New Spring EPS of 'JoJo & Gran Gran'!

 

Well that went quickly! Seemed like only yesterday that the WINTER EPS of 'JoJo & Gran Gran' were announced!! Although it doesn't feel much like Spring at the moment here comes 11 ALL NEW SPRING EPS of the Award-Winning series.

Proud as punch (as ever) to be involved. Once again in these new episodes ... EZRA is back playing his DOUBLE BASS and helping 'JoJo & Gran Gran' when they visit the opticians in TODAY'S EPISODE unsurprisingly called 'It's Time to Visit the Opticians' ... Tune in at 5.35pm on CBeebies.

The NEW SERIES actually started last Monday with a SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY episode .. You can catch up with all the latest episodes and the enitre series so far over at the BBC iPLAYER here https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000ghpx/jojo-gran-gran?seriesId=m001khf4

ENJOY!!

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com 

New Voice Representation ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I'm delighted to announce that I am now represented for voice work by Natalie Edwards at Excellent Talent. Onwards and upwards! 

Here's a direct link to my new agency profile at Excellent.

https://www.excellenttalent.com/voice/sean-connolly/

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

OUT NOW!! Classic British Sci-Fi - 'Star Cops: The High Frontier 1' from BIG FINISH!!

STAR COPS is a British science fiction television drama series first broadcast on BBC2 in 1987. It was devised by CHRIS BOUCHER, a writer who had previously worked on the science fiction television series DOCTOR WHO and BLAKE'S 7 as well as crime dramas such as Juliet Bravo and Bergerac.

In 2018, Big Finish continued the story, with original cast members DAVID CALDER, TREVOR COOPER and LINDA NEWTON joined by new characters played by RHAKEE THAKRAR and PHILIP OLIVIER.

I was delighted to be asked to be a part of it's latest BOXSET: 3A - 'Star Cops: The High Frontier 1' comprising of THREE interconnected episodes.

3.1 Dead Air by Roland Moore

When Sonia Garrett dies during a routine moonwalk, the Star Cops suspect that her suit was sabotaged. As part of the investigation, Devis and Paul travel to an ancient space station to interview XANDER O'BRIEN (played by my good self in a guest lead role!). But the reclusive meteorologist has a surprise in store. He knows exactly who killed Sonia Garrett. Aliens!

I also turn up in the two other episodes of the boxset:3.2 Hostile Takeover by Rossa McPhillips and 3.3 Death in the Desert by Sarah Grochala playing a Moonbase Worker and a Soldier respectively!

It's cracking stuff here, great fun to record and extra special to work with some of the original stars of the show and all wonderfully directed by HELEN GOLDWYN ...

Here's a full cast list for the three episodes:

3A - Star Cops: The High Frontier 1

David Calder (Nathan Spring)

Trevor Cooper (Inspector Colin Devis)

Linda Newton (Acting Chief Superintendent Pal Kenzy)

Philip Olivier (Inspector Paul Bailey)

Sean Connolly (Xander O’Brien / Soldier 1)

Billie Fulford-Brown (Kathy Marshall / Clare Jones)

Sarah Lawrie (Dr Kay Jones)

Lynsey Murrell (Alice Okoro)

Jason Nwoga (Professor Sani Habib / Sergeant Hamza)

Graham Vick (James Winfield / Torsten Arthurton)

Becky Wright (Sonia Garrett / Chef)

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

NEW YEAR - NEW 'Winter' Episodes of 'JoJo & Gran Gran' with EZRA - AVAILABLE from THIS MONDAY 16th Jan 2023!

 

I'm delighted, as ever to announce the transmission of a new mini-season of 10 WINTER EPISODES for the Award-Winning animated series 'JOJO & GRAN GRAN' ...

Again, beyond proud to be part of this landmark children's show ... 

Series 2 Winter episodes of 'JoJo & Gran Gran' launch on CBeebies this coming Monday 16th January at 5.35pm! All 10 episodes will then also be available on iPlayer on the same day.

You might've noticed a jaunty looking EZRA with his grandson JAXON in the background on top of the snowy hilltop, you'll be seeing a fair bit of him in the coming weeks as he pops up in 3 EPISODES and crackers they all are too!! Look out for the following episodes:

• It's Time to Play in the Snow
• It's Time to Remember Grandad
• It's Time for a Tea Party

I can't wait for you all to see all of the new episodes, as ever it'll be beautiful!

Credit where credit is due - all the voice actors, directors, producers, audio production, animators, script writers .. soooo many talented peeps involved. Especially the BBC CHILDREN'S PRODUCTION TEAM and A PRODUCTIONS ...

ENJOY!!

Linktree linktr.ee/SeanConnolly

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com