'Blackstone Fortress' a Warhammer 40,000 AUDIO BOOK by Darius Hinks - Narrated by Sean Connolly is AVAILABLE to PRE-ORDER ...

I can now reveal the project I was working on PRE-LOCKDOWN is now AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER here ... The novel, written by the amazing DARIUS HINKS based on the 'WARHAMMER QUEST: BLACKSTONE FORTRESS' game from GAMES WORKSHOP now has an AUDIO BOOK and I had the great honour to be asked to be it's NARRATOR.

It's a real roller-coaster ride of a story (my first FULL LENGTH AUDIO BOOK for Games Workshop) and I had an absolute blast recording it! ... There was OVER 30 CHARACTERS to voice (PHEW!) so it certainly was a MARATHON but a hugely enjoyable one. Some of the characters I already knew from doing a FULL CAST AUDIO DRAMA called 'THE BEAST INSIDE' (below) last year, also based on the game where I played the lead role of the moustached and monocled Rogue Trader JANUS DRAIK ...

You can DOWNLOAD it via BLACK LIBRARY from MAY 30TH, it will also be available to grab from AUDIBLE, AMAZON KINDLE and APPLE BOOKS ... the RUNNING TIME is FIVE MINUES SHY OF 10 HOURS at 9 HOURS 55 MINUTES ... More news after it's official release ...

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

The Little English Theatre's 2018 production of John Godber's 'Up N Under' - AVAILABLE FOR ONE WEEK ONLY on VIMEO featuring yours truly!

Up N Under by John Godber. Performed by The Little English Theatre at Redditch Palace Theatre 2018 from Stephan Bessant on Vimeo.

The NATIONAL THEATRE are showing some GREAT STUFF on You Tube at the moment ... but I have some EXCITING NEWS!!! The 2018 production of JOHN GODBER'S classic rugby play 'UP N UNDER' performed by THE LITTLE ENGLISH THEATRE COMPANY at the Palace Theatre Redditch is AVAILABLE on VIMEO for ONE WEEK ONLY as a very special LOCKDOWN SHOWING!! 

MASSIVE THANKS must go to writer JOHN GODBER for giving his permission to show it over the next week ...

I can't quite believe IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO! I had such a ball (sorry!) acting with my mates on stage - what memories - what a privilege!  

Here's the DIRECT LINK to VIMEO https://vimeo.com/405435368

If you are VERY CLEVER you can DOWNLOAD the VIMEO APP on to your SMART TV if you have one and WATCH IT ON YOUR TELLY!!! 

Remember it's ONLY ON FOR A WEEK STARTING LAST NIGHT 8th APRIL 2020 .... 

PLEASE DO SHARE THIS LINK - IT'S A CRACKING SPORTING UNDERDOG STORY - OH AND IT'S FUNNY!! 

Cast List:

(In order of appearance)

Hazel Scott (Becky Neale)
Arthur Hoyle (Sean Connolly)
Reg Welsh (Paul Lumsden)
Tony Burtoft (Nathan Blyth)
Frank Rowley (Greg Hobbs)
Phil Hopley (Stephan Bessant)
Steve Edwards (Laurence Saunders)
Match Announcer (Paul Lumsden)

Directed & produced (Stephan Bessant)
Directors assistant (Paul Lumsden)
Match choreography (Ben Roddy)

Video recording (Paul Withers)

Rugby match kit designed by Sarah Kitson

ENJOY THE PLAY!! THE INTERVAL IS AT 1HR 3 MINUTES

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

BRAND NEW CBEEBIES Animated Series 'JoJo & Gran Gran' STARTS TODAY!! Hear me in the SUMMER!!

'JoJo & Gran Gran' starts on CBeebies on Monday 16th March 2020 ...

I am over the moon to announce my involvement in the BRAND NEW ANIMATED SERIES from CBEEBIES - 'JOJO & GRAN GRAN' which will starts airing TODAY - MONDAY 16th MARCH at 5.30pm-5.40pm on the CBEEBIES TV CHANNEL and streaming on the BBC iPLAYER ... 

Courtesy of the BBC MEDIA CENTRE; "JoJo & Gran Gran is based on characters created by LAURA HENRY-ALLAIN and the look of the series was defined by award-winning illustrator LEO ESPINOSA. Within each animated episode, there is a live action moment which features children talking about the themes covered." (continued below ...)

Gran Gran is voiced by Cathy Tyson, JoJo by Taiya Samuel; Great Gran Gran by Llewella Gideon; Jared, who works in the local shop, by Ashley Joseph; and Gran Gran’s friendly neighbour Cynthia by Teresa Gallagher oh ... and I play EZRA (a friend of Gran Gran's)! - however I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the SUMMER to hear my dulcet tones!! Watch the series anyway - it's going be REALLY SPECIAL!! 

Here's an overview of the first 11 EPISODES of 44 set against the background of SPRING ...

As we go through the year, the next 11 episodes will be aired in the SUMMER, followed by the another 11 episodes in the AUTUMN and the final 11 in the WINTER .. you might have guessed one of the themes with the series, yes IT'S THE SEASONS!!  

A little more about the series again from the BBC's MEDIA CENTRE; "They live close by to one another in a bustling London neighbourhood and Gran Gran always has something planned to do when JoJo comes to visit.

Throughout the series, the stories are inspired by the passing of time, covering topics such as life cycles, the passing of the seasons, growth or the sequencing involved in activities like baking a cake or catching a bus.

JoJo adores her grandma and the time they spend together. Gran Gran is very proud of her Saint Lucian heritage and is always happy when she has an opportunity to teach JoJo about the island’s culture."

Here's the trailer ...

ENJOY THE SERIES!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

DOUBLE BBC TELLY TROUBLE for SEAN ...'Doctors' & 'Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators' ...

I've had the great fortune to have appeared in TWO MIDLAND'S MADE BBC telly shows either side of Christmas .. firstly just before Christmas I was delighted to return to 'DOCTORS' and last week I popped up on the hugely popular afternoon crime drama 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS' ...

Firstly and rather belatedly my 'DOCTORS' episode 'HE WATCHES' was a pre-Christmas story, tying up a long storyline but also introducing my good self as Villa fan and pub landlord MARK ELWOOD who appears to be at the centre of a on-line conspiracy theory - here's the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000c6nl/doctors-series-21-27-he-watches (it's available for a year!) and few stills from the episode, no spoilers from me, have a watch ... director was NIALL FRASER.

Secondly and rather more recently was my dramatic cameo appearance in the second episode 'SEE THYSELF, DEVIL!' of SEASON 3 of 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTGATORS' starring JOY JOYNER and MARK BENTON ... I play EARL ALBANY, ex-lead guitarist turned vicar of legendary heavy rock band 'CALIBAN'S CLAW' ... Back in their heyday the members of the band all signed a 'deal' with the devil in blood for success, as the lead singer (played by DAVID SCHOFIELD) plans a comeback it seems that the devil is back to call in that debt!! 

Here again is the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000f290/shakespeare-hathaway-private-investigators-series-3-2-see-thyself-devil (once again it's available for the whole of this year!) and a few well chosen 'spoiler-free' stills from the episode ... enjoy!! Director for this episode was JOHN GREENING ...

(OH ... IF YOU READ TO THE END OF THIS BLOGPOST, YOU'LL SEE AN EXCLUSIVE BAND PIC!)

It was great fun on the shoot ... you might recognise my church as The Collegiate Church of St Mary in lovely Warwick ... What a privilege it was to work in such beautiful surroundings. It was also lovely to reaquaint  with JO JOYNER after quite a hiatus ... we'd last worked together on the CHANNEL 4 series 'NO ANGELS' back in 2005(ish!) ...

HERE'S THAT PIC!!! 

CALIBAN'S CLAW at the height of their success, Earl is on the left!!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

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