February 2011

Halfway through February already, so a bit of a late posting this month. 

Big Finish have released details of The Children of Seth story, recorded last month and which I mentioned in the January posting. The information below is taken from the BF web site:

"Series three of The Lost Stories has moved forward in the schedule, with a trio of Fifth Doctor tales now planned for released in October, November and December 2011. The series will then break for four months, and return in May 2012 with the remaining five stories being released monthly.

The first title to be announced is The Children of Seth by Christopher Bailey, writer of the acclaimed Kinda and Snakedance. In The Children of Seth the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa arrive on a world that is at war with its evil enemy Seth, but anyone who questions the status quo is dispatched summarily to ‘Hell’…

The Children of Seth was recorded mid-January, and director Ken Bentley assembled a world class cast. Guest stars include Honor Blackman (The Avengers, Doctor Who: Terror of the Vervoids) plays Anahita, David Warner (Titanic, Doctor Who: Dreamland) is Siris, Vernon Dobtcheff (The Spy Who Loved Me , Doctor Who: The War Games) plays Shamur and Adrian Lukis (Pride and Prejudice) is Byzan.

“We knew we had to get the very best for this one,” says David, (producer David Richardson) “because it’s such a wonderful script. And it was beautiful to listen to in studio – I think we have discovered something very special indeed…”


I couldn't resist including an image here of Honor Blackman and saying what a pleasure and 'honour' it was to work with her. 

I've outlined previously, how rewarding an experience it is to work on a Big Finish production; the unfailing pleasure of such work comes as a result of the huge amount of care that goes into every detail, before, during and after the recording process. The production team somehow always manage to engender a relaxed, collaborative and truly creative working environment, which any actor would relish and recognise as an all too rare glimpse of how things should be. In this instance, my particular thanks go to Toby Hrycek-Robinson, David Richardson and uber-director, the Great Ken Bentley. 

   

  The Children of Seth will be released in December 2011.

There are a number of other things I should also mention for this half-elapsed month: 

Firstly, and I should have mentioned this last month, 25 years ago in January 1986, North One Management began trading as an actor's co-operative agency. The company came into being as a result of a bit of 'pub talk' I'd had with a few acting mates, wondering how we could improve our chances of gainful and worthwhile employment. 

The company really started to come together in mid '85 and with the invaluable contribution of a small group of university friends, especially founder members Marc Zakian, Lucinda Smith and Joanne Stoner, by January '86, we were open for business. The name, North One Management, came from a combination of our location at the old Hackney Hospital in Dalston, N1 and the fact that I am from the north, that I am a 'north one'.

All the original members of the co-op have now moved on. Nevertheless, as I'm sure you will appreciate, I'm immensely proud of what we achieved and of the reputation we established. I'm absolutely delighted that the company is still up and running - here's to the next 25 years!

...secondly,

Suzanne Hunter of Brooklands Radio has once again asked for a contribution to her show from my friend Mr. Silke and me. Consequently, we recently recorded five classic love poems for her Valentine's Day special programme, which was broadcast earlier today. 

...and finally:

Lucie Miller and The Feast of Axos are released this month form Big Finish. 

a bientot.