Coming June 6th…
Hello...
The majority of my working life has been spent in the theatre with companies including York Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman, Sheffield Crucible, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange and the National Theatre in London.
Television work includes Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and 'Allo, Allo!'. I have also worked on a number of radio drama and comedy productions with the BBC.
Since March 2009, I have enjoyed playing a huge variety of characters in more than 270* audio-drama stories with Big Finish Productions, together with The Black Library/Games Workshop, details of which can be found in the postings below.
There are also details listed here of the 214* audio books & stories I've recorded since March 2013, including the unabridged New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, for companies including audible.co.uk, Hachette, Audible Studios, Podium Audio Publishing, HarperCollins, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Orion, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio.
(*figures at April 2021)
I hope you find something of interest here and come back soon for further updates.
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Doctor Who: Back To Earth
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Thursday, 28 February 2013
'Allo 'Allo! on Gold
Well, the title says it all really.
UK TV Gold have started to broadcast 'Allo 'Allo! from the beginning. They're showing it twice a day, plus twice again on '+1' - even so, it could take a while to get to Series 5 when Corporal Caponi makes his debut.
Although my involvement in the show was relatively small, I remember working on it with great affection. It was an honour to work with such a cast of amazing and highly experienced actors; I learned a great deal from them and from the production team. I'll certainly be watching the show on Gold and if you decide to tune in, I hope you'll enjoy watching it too.
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Big Finish Day 3
With just over a month to go before Big Finish Day 3, I thought it about time to 'post the poster'. By coincidence, the convention falls on the final weekend performances of Port and there's a matinee on the day itself, which means unfortunately, I'll only be there for the morning activities. A shame to miss any of the day's events, I'll just have to make the most of the time I am able to be there - really looking forward to it!
For the latest information on who will be attending BFD3, follow this link: tenthplanetevents
PS: I notice that Kim Hartman and Richard Gibson are due to appear. Hope we get the chance to say 'Allo 'Allo! - I haven't seen Kim or Richard since my last episode in 1989!
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Vienna & Spaceport Fear
Berkeley Silver, one of the richest men in the Earth empire, lies dead in the Penthouse Suite of the Galileo space-hotel. Law Enforcement Officers Detective Captain McGinnis and Detective Sergeant Mead are called in to investigate – but it seems to have been the perfect crime. Even when subjected to a memory scan, everybody in the space-hotel has an alibi for the murder.
Chase Masterson Vienna Salvatori
Gemma Whelan Mead
Tom Price Norvelle Spraggott
Directed By: Ken Bentley
Both Tom and Gemma were also a delight to work with and again, hopefully, our professional paths will cross again before long. Great thanks too to Jonathan Morris for such a fantastic script and to Ken Bentley for his inspirational direction.
Chase Masterson says:
"The Memory Box is a great romp. As with The Shadow Heart, writer Jonathan Morris takes us on a ride packed with twists and turns and farce - it's big fun. And Vienna is one of my favourite characters ever: the endearingly incorrigible killer we loved to hate in The Shadow Heart - completely unapologetic, even charming about her day job as a mercenary assassin. Plus, she usually manages to land on the side of justice. Vienna's quite a turn-on - I think you'll like her as much as I do."
...and finally, a tweet from Chase:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The second Big Finish release this month, is a very strange and interesting story; Doctor Who: Spaceport Fear, in which I used the most extreme vocal sound I've ever come up with for The Wailers - can't wait to hear what might have happened to it during post-production!
Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where a terrible creature called the Wailer prowls the corridors around the Control Tower, looking to eat the unwary...
Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there is one Arrival: a battered blue Police Box containing the time-travelling Doctor and his companion, Mel...
Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there are no Departures. Ever.
Directed By: Barnaby Edwards
Dalek Universe 2
Kragnos Broken Realms
Age of Sigmar Dominion
The Moggotkin of Nurgle
Kragnos Broken Realms
Dawn of Fire Book 1: Avenging Son
The Lore of Direchasm
Direchasm
A C'tan Shard Rises 3
Indomitus: Necrons 2
A Lord Among the Stars 1
Angels of Death Preview
Ultramarines
Psychic Awakening
Warcry: Death or Glory
Warhammer 40,000
Flight. Redefined.
Reviews & comments:
Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!
John Banks is a voice genius...
Nev Fountain - writer
Mervyn Stone... played by the note-perfect John Banks.
Matt Hills - Reviews in Time and Space
Dr. Who: The Sleeping City
I also must draw attention to John Banks who is an exceptional voice artist and in this one story performs more characters that I can count. ... it is listening to episodes like this one that really do let his talents shine through.
Tony Jones - Red Rocket Rising
Highlander:
...playing several parts, was the brilliant Big Finish regular John Banks - it was as if there were about 40 different actors in the other booth.
James Moran - writer
I went for the best of the best and brought in voice artiste extraordinaire John Banks.
Paul Spragg - producer
Vienna:
...also features the mind - bogglingly versatile and reliable John Banks
Jonathan Morris - writer
Dead Funny:
The acting is first rate… wonderfully played by John Banks as Richard – his impersonation of Eric Morecambe is worth the admission money alone.
Beverly Greenberg: Bolton Evening News
Mr. Happiness:
This early and unfamiliar play by David Mamet is a character study of a 1930s radio counsellor, dispensing suave advice to his devoted listeners. John Banks brings out the wry comedy of this – comedy quite unappreciated by the character – with a clever range of gesture and vocal tone.
Jeremy Kingston: The Times
All My Sons:
This is a beautifully crafted piece ...and it affords a wonderful opportunity for John Readman* to do his All-American Boy act as Chris Keller. This most polished and well observed performance as the blighted son of a blighted father must rank as one of his finest accomplishments yet. ( * see Profile)
The Stage
Kudos should also go to John Banks. Lestrade can be a thankless part, but Banks rose to the challenge, playing a pivotal role in this decades long arc.
Raissa Devereux - SciFiPulse
The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes
John Banks is multi-tasking, both as the superb Lestrade and also the villainous and no doubt moustache twirling Sebastian Moran. They sound completely different and I bow to his talent.
Sue Davies - SFcrowsnest