Reviews have started to come in from my recent audiobook actor work for ‘Flamingoes in Orbit’ by Philip Ridley.
“Absolutely perfect for the tone of these stories is the soothing, melodic voice of narrator Josh Shirt. I’m disappointed to find he doesn’t currently have any other audiobooks available on Audible, and if this talented performer uses any other names I’d sure love to know about it.
Mr. Shirt brings these stories to life in a way that had chills running down my back. He’s subtle as he builds the tension, and when the inevitable twists come in the plot it’s a wonderful surprise as I couldn’t tell it was coming.”
Philip Ridley’s collection of short stories (Flamingoes in Orbit) – like his two adult novels, Crocodilia and In the Eyes of Mr Fury – became an instant cult classic when first published in 1990.
Flamingoes in Orbit Audiobook Recording
‘Flamingoes in Orbit’ was updated and re-released in 2018. I auditioned to be the audiobook narrator and I’m very proud to say that I got the part.
These stories were a pleasure to bring to life: A multitude of interesting and believable characters jumped out at me from the page and lent themselves to a range of British accents.
I recorded my performance of the novel in October and November 2018 and Ridley’s accurate, engaging and sometimes controversial storytelling literally made me laugh and cry.
5 Minute Preview
This great book is about coming of age, family dynamics and being gay in 80’s England, “in a world still bristling with prejudice, and (it) sings and howls with the need for equality and freedom.”
“Menace lurks in the shady corners of family life…. Chilling.” (Time Out)
Over the Hills and Far Away is a short story by Fay Rahman. The audio drama (released in podcast form by Sony Music Entertainment) follows the violent and treacherous life of an English pirate who defects and seeks his fortunes in the Caribbean.
Audiobook Narrator & Voice Actor
The story was written in the third and first person. I used my natural voice for the narrator keen to deliver an engaging performance. For the characters, I gave a believable pirate voice to the protagonist (‘Arrrgh!’) while other characters received accents from Somerset, Manchester and aristocratic beginnings in London.
The story is now available on Spotify and has been fully produced with music and sound effects.
If you would like me to narrate your story please contact me.
I was the recently the audiobook narrator for two stories now available in podcast form on Amazon, Spotify and Deezer.
Audiobook: Surreptitiously Supercilious
Surreptitiously Supercilious by Molly Crighton is a piece of fan fiction based on the love story ‘Notting Hill’. This novel follows the twists and turns of a transatlantic relationship. I narrated the book in its entirety, performing both the British and American accents.
Audiobook: One Man’s Treasure
One Man’s Treasure by Fay Rahman is set in the criminal underworld of medieval England. I had fun recording this story because its scandalous cast lent itself to some quirky regional English accents (‘alright guv’nor?’).
Audiobook Narrator Showreel
Download Audio Book Showreel (Right click “Save As”)
