April Lockdown Update

Hello my dears

I hope you’re all well and staying safe during this pandemic. I don’t know how it’s impacting on you, but for me, I seem unable to concentrate on computer stuff, hence the long wait since my last post. I just don’t have the willpower tou sit at a screen. I’ve had to force myself to write this today.

Similar tale with TV. I can sit to watch a show and I’m constantly pausing to check for phone updates. And I fall alseep a lot in front of the telly, despite sleeping well at night. It’s different ways of reacting to the state we live in I guess.

I’m trying to be creative, done lots of garden work, tidying, weeding, planting. I make lots of videos, dog walks, bird song, etc. More of that further down.

A couple of things I’d like to promote though… 5 years ago, I worked on a web series called Barry Pigeon Protects, all about a night security guard sharing his life via webcam. Lovely project written/directed and produced by Kurt Brookes and Andrew Birtwell.

My old mate Doug Thorp asked if I could rekindle Barry as a guest for his Broken Biscuits  Online Cabaret.

I asked Kurt and Andy, and within a week we had it written, shot and edited. Due to lockdown, I shot at home with a green screen, and my old security cabin office magically appeared in editing.

Here’s Broken Biscuits Online No. 2. Barry Pigeon is the final artiste in the show… It’s well worth the watch as an alternative to the assault of information we have these days.

For those who want just a dose of Barry Pigeon, here’s the new episode….

And good new Pigeon fans, more Barry is likely to be forthcoming 🙂
I’ll update when I can.

Other bits of creativity overcome me. The opening of David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs album, the spoken track Future Legend, is something I committed to memory at age 16.
The words kept coming back to me recently, so here it is, performed as a monologue…

I have another favourite song committed to memory that I plan to make a video for. A more complicated production, but hopefully coming soon.

As mentioned earlier, I’ve been filming my daily dog walks, and sharing on my Facebook feed as Virtual Dog Walking for Shut Ins. I also post my daily Twitter Feeds… the sound of bird song captured in the park.

I’m putting these on to my YouTube Channel now, so here’s a link to my Virtual Dog Walks Playlist….

Norfolk Park Twitter Feed

Okay, hope you enjoyed the walkies and the birds. I’ll keep adding to the Playlists so keep checking back.

Stay safe, love your friends and family – and tell them you do.
We all need it right now.
I hope to update again soon.

D x

Welcome to Shangri-La opens Tuesday

Our lovely production of Welcome to Shangri-La opens on Tuesday at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

Had a fantastic time in rehearsal and now it’s ready for public consumption.

It’s funny. It’s moving. It’s dark.

Come and see us.

We’ll get your room ready….

COMING – Emmerdale and I’m on stage in Feb.

Happy New Year – and welcome to my first post of 2020!
Good stuff to update you with – I’m coming up on the Telly and on the Stage.

Emmerdale

I return to Emmerdale January 30 and Feb 4 as TREVOR.

Lovely character, very different to past appearances – especially my Emmerdale Elvis 🙂 and part of the big current storyline.
I’m name-checked in the Radio Times again…

Cast list, Emmerdale Jan 30

Welcome to Shangri-La

 

I’m already starting to salivate about this production, an amazing new play written by BAFTA Break-through Brit Gemma Langford, Directed by Joel Parry for Broken Biscuits at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, 11th-20th Feb 2020. Get your tickets HERE

I play BURT – more about him – and the show – as the production comes together.

Here’s a video trailer to whet your appetite….

And here’s more info about the play…

Cheryl’s life is anything but ordinary – living in a run-down seaside B & B (that also doubles as a swinger’s club) alongside a gambling man, a fortune teller and an elderly deviant, she would give anything for a bit of boring.

But you should be careful what you wish for.

When George turns up late one night looking for his missing wife, he brings with him a cash-filled wallet and the promise of a normal life. But this promise comes with a price – the very soul of Shangri-La and its inhabitants.

Written by BAFTA Break-through Brit Gemma Langford, Welcome to Shangri-La is a dark comedy that challenges its audience to look at their own definition of “normality” and to ask themselves “am I alright?”

Broken Biscuits are a new theatre company in Manchester championing working class voices.

Written by Gemma Langford
Directed by Joel Parry
Produced by Hannah Ellis Ryan of HER Productions
Poster design by Chris Ball with original artwork by Rose Sergent

I’m in Doctors, BBC1 Nov 25th

Coming to your Telly next Monday….. I’m in Doctors, BBC1 1:45. Had a super time shooting this, it’s a bit of different role for me. Can’t wait to see it.

If you can’t see it live, or record to your TV device, you can catch up afterwards here….

Coming up…. some more telly to air in January. Can’t wait 🙂

And finally….Remember to vote.
Please, I beg, VOTE LABOUR! Check out that Manifesto

Dave x

On Stage and Screen

Hi folks! November already!
Time flies….

STAGE

Been a busy few weeks. This past weekend I was on stage at York Theatre Royal in the TakeOver Festival with the lovely short play, THE SYLVIA SWING, written by Melanie Hopkins. If you’d like to see it, the video is below…


In October, I returned as Undertaker Albert Holdings in the play TRUMPET, based on the novel by Jackie Kay. Directed by Amanda Huxtable and produced by Shirley Harris at Vanitas Arts.

We had an R&D session on TRUMPET earlier in the year. The latest session was Digital Testing; adding the multimedia layers that bring the show to life. Plans are for a full production next year.


SCREEN

Coming up on November 25th in your living room – I will be in DOCTORS on BBC1. Smashing part I filmed a couple of months ago. I can’t wait to see it 🙂


So kids, that’s it for this update, stay warm and safe, vote wisely, VOTE LABOUR, and I’ll be back soon

Dave

VOTE LABOUR 2019!

 

 

Let me read to you. It may be scary….

I had a summer of horror! …..

Reading and recording the audiobook The Dead Room, by Luke Walker.

I love a good horror – and this one kept me entertained, both through my initial reading, and creating the world for the audiobook. Feedback so far has been brilliant, so please check it out!

Here’s a little about it… mybook.to/TheDeadRoomAudible

A week before Christmas, terrorists detonate dozens of dirty bombs throughout Britain and release a man-made contagion, leading Nicola Allen to begin a frantic hunt for her husband and daughter while a nation burns.

Fleeing from a horrendous event she refuses to speak of and desperate to find shelter in a dying country, Nicola’s sister-in-law, Cate, takes cover in a partly-destroyed hospital. Terrorised by visions of mutilated bodies and the screams of phantom children, Cate joins a group of survivors, all of whom are under attack by ruthless scavengers and looters.

If Nicola is to have any chance of finding her family and if Cate is to escape from the siege, they must reunite and then descend into the belly of the ruined hospital where the horrific truth of what truly connects the two women is waiting for them.

Waiting for them down in the dead room.

Sounds good eh? Go get it now!!!! THE DEAD ROOM

And remember – both Luke and I would really appreciate any reviews you may leave anywhere!

Happy reading – and listening…..

On Radio 4 Aug 2 & Aug 9

Listen to Radio 4 over the next two weekS to catch me as one of the historic voices in Peterloo: The Massacre That Changed Britain.

A fascinating insight into a long forgotten dark slice of British history.
I add my voice to historic accounts, letters and court scenes.

That’s Friday Aug 2 & Aug 9 at 11:00 – and available on your usual catch up services.

Peterloo: The Massacre That Changed Britain – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00076tg

THIS IS MIDNIGHT – Audiobook

Hi folks!

I hope your summer is treating you well.
I’m having fun – family visits, BBQ’s…

And some interesting work projects…

AUDIOBOOK

I have a new Audiobook available on Audible.
Perfect Bedtime listening -if you enjoy a spooky short story 

Check it out here… https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B07V9J972N/…

THIS IS MIDNIGHT Stories, by Bernard Taylor. The complete short fiction of a master of modern horror fiction. The 13 stories collected here represent the complete short fiction of Bernard Taylor, one of the best-selling horror authors of the 1970s and 80s, author of The Godsend and Mother’s Boys, both adapted for film, and Sweetheart, Sweetheart, hailed by Charles L. Grant as the finest ghost story of all time. In these tales, which often feature an unexpectedly cruel or bizarre twist, Taylor offers a clever mixture of horror and black humor that will delight fans of the genre.

TV

I’ve also had a great visit to Birmingham to shoot an episode of DOCTORS.
Lot’s of fun and a very fast shoot. They really turn it around fast there.
Due to air in November. More details closer to the airdate.

RADIO

And I’ve just recorded some dramatised segments for a BBC Radio 4 Documentary on the PETERLOO MASSACRE. Airs in August.

So, lot’s of ways to see or hear me.
Stay tuned, more is in the pipeline 🙂

Dave x

I’m now available on Audible…

Wow. It’s been ages since my last post. My apologies. I hope my Instagram updates and Twitter feed have kept you informed on my life in my absence.

So, it’s been over a year… Busy with life I guess. And that has involved a couple of big things… a house move last year, and a car accident just before Christmas.

I love the new house. It’s closer to Sheffield city centre and I love being able to walk into town. It’s an area of the city I didn’t really know before and I’m really enjoying walking everywhere.

As for the accident – well, I was in the middle of a multi-car motorway collision – it wrote off my car, but I walked away with only aches and pains. Car replaced and all okay.

Acting work has been slow of late (though there are a couple of very exciting things coming soon) but I’ve expanded my narration work. And my first release for Audible is now available.

So, would you like to take me to bed? Or anywhere nice and quiet so you can have me in your ears?

It’s a lovely, dark, funny and emotional collection of poetry by artist and poet Justin Aerni. It’s been a privilege to bring his words to life.

Follow the link. Justin Aerni’s Bitter Batter Brains

You know what to do…. ❤️

Justin Aerni's Bitter Batter Brains
Justin Aerni’s Bitter Batter Brains

If you’re a reviewer, let me know, I may be able to sort out a review promo code for you.

COMING SOON…

I’ll be on the telly…. and in a video for a great indie band. More soon…