Craig Shepherd
Craig is not only the Writer of the 'Codd Palace' Pilot 'Simply Ken', he's also the Lead Actor. Both are huge responsibilities and we think he has done a fabulous job!
Craig was incredibly nervous for the Preview we held in May, but is still buzzing at the reception his work received. Let's hope we can get it commissioned!
Biography
Craig was born Andrew Craig Shepherd; to Brian and Hazel Shepherd, at the Northern General Hospital in a snowbound Sheffield, in February 1969. His first venture into entertainment was to become a Saturday afternoon World of Sport wrestler, as he was so fascinates by the audiences reaction to them, particularly the villains.
However by the time he was 14, he had been in a number of school plays and had joined the Sheffield Youth Theatre run by Meg Jepson; who specialised in Shakespeare and other classic works such as Chaucer and the York cycle Mystery Plays. One of his main influences were Laurel & Hardy the famous comedy duo, he liked the pathos and the storytelling as well as their broad slapstick humour, which very rarely mixed with subtlety of delivery. After 3 years at East 15 Drama School, he graduated in 1993. He made a number of TV and Film appearances. Most notably as "Ben" in Sean Bean's Sheffield football film 'When Saturday Comes". PC Jordan in 'Emmerdale', later as "smelly Colin" in same soap. An alien possessed Policeman in 'Whizziwig'. As Peter Kay's School mate "Foster-ster" in 'Max & Paddy, as well as "Tait" attacking John Hannah in 'New Street Law'. Recently he appeared with Gabriel Byrne as his arresting officer in 'Lies we tell' and as another Policeman (PC Carter) in 'Waterloo Road'.
As well as touring Austria in 2001 with Vienna's English theatre as "Inspector Fix". Craig toured his one man show of Laurel & Hardy 'The Fiddle and the Bow' around the Fan Clubs between 2009 - 2018. He won the Solo Festival in Camden as BEST MALE ACT in 2011. It was on these tours that he met Jeffrey Holland & Judy Buxton and they decided that it would be a great idea to work together on a project in the near future. Cut to 2021 and Jeff played Craig's Dad in 'Simply Ken' as 'Stan Oliver Codd'. Craig also has a 12 year old son named 'Oliver Stanley Shepherd', can you guess who he is named after?
Graig recently performed 'The Fiddle & Bow at Rotherham Civic Theatre and received a standing ovation, watch out for the play being staged again in local theatres!
Craig is also Co-Programme \ Leader of Levels 1-6 Performing Arts at Rotherham College.
Contact
Nyland Management: casting@nylandmanagement.com