BEN KEATON
Actor.Writer.Humorist
About
A multi-award-winning actor - Olivier Nominee, 3 Manchester Evening News Best Actor Awards, Perrier Award. I started on the comedy circuit in the 1980s before taking leads in theatre. That led to national, and international touring and the West End. I have a wide range of TV credits from a regular cast member on Casualty to Father Ted. I've written 6 TV series for the BBC and Channel 4. Created Brainiac Live - an adaptation of the hit SKY science series designed for arenas nationwide, worked with dance companies, puppet companies, film companies. I'm primarily a writer, director and educator these days but I love adventure. My greatest joy is variety. So ask me.
I'm worried that the lack of funding for the arts in schools means that the next generation of talent will remain undiscovered. So I set up a charity to find them. It started in one school in 2021. We have five schools in 2024 with others coming on board down the line.
You can find out more at
A fantastic year with Blind Summit Theatre co directing and writing The Sex Lives of Puppets with Mark Down. The result is rude, funny and touching - in every sense. I started out a puppet novice, it's been a steep learning curve but the result is delightful.
★★★★★
“ Is it too early to start talking about the best shows of the year?”
Broadway World
★★★★
“A refreshingly positive message about sharing intimacy, shedding inhibitions and finding your own joy”.
The Stage
I was involved in a production of Waiting for Godot but the pandemic halted rehearsal before we got on stage. By the time we emerged from isolation I'd lost confidence in my ability to do the performance I wanted. This recording is the only remnant of that time.
I wasn't long out of depression. I think it haunts this performance. Artists use everything - nothing is left to waste.
NEW by LUNA PATHS (ft Ben Keaton)
This track features the voice and words of legendary Irish actor and writer Ben Keaton, who Diane worked with back in the days before Lunar Paths came to be. Among his many talents, Ben is a poet, and his YouTube channel features a lot of his beautiful spoken word pieces.
A fan of Lunar Paths, Ben suggested the idea of a collaboration, and so Diane asked him to send her something that he had created. He obliged, and sent her a recording of his poem, New, with the generous instruction that she could do with it as she pleased.
I started working at Morden Wolf Virtual Production Studios in 2021. Together with Blue Canary Films we're developing vertical format promo videos for TikTok and Instagram. I write,direct, perform and coach depending on the project. It's about as much fun as a person can have.
The folk artist Reg Meuross came to me with 14 songs and an outline of Woody Guthries life. That resulted in a commission to write and direct a 12 part podcast series produced by Pete Townshend. The untold story of an American icon. The album and podcast series are yet to emerge. I'm immensely proud of the work we did on the series. It forever changed my writing. If anything it defined my voice. I can't wait to see it released.