Shaun Prendergast


Shaun Prendergast is an English actor and writer.

Career

Prendergast was born in North Shields and holds a BA degree from Bretton Hall College. He was an actor and playwright in residence for Northumberland Theatre Company before joining the BBC Radio Drama Company, and subsequently became a founder member of Kenneth Branagh's newly formed Renaissance Theatre Company. Recognition for his work includes a Sony Award, a Writers' Guild Award and a Time Out Award. In 2020 he published his first novel, Benny Blue Eyes.

Selected TV credits

Prendergast has appeared in The Bill, EastEnders, Holby City, Hotel Babylon, The Lightning Kid, Heartbeat, New Tricks, Emmerdale and Collision by Anthony Horowitz. From 1988 to 1989, he voiced Sunshine, Zak and a buoy in TUGS. In summer 2010, he filmed an episode of Tracy Beaker Returns, which aired on CBBC Channel. As well as appearances in Casualty, Doctors, WPC 56, and Father Brown he plays the role of Robert Bain, the Head of Education for East Kilbride, in the drama series Waterloo Road. In 2020, he appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Archie Matthews. He appeared again in 2021 as Doug Abbott. Finally, he appeared in the final episode of Doctors as Carson Black.

Selected film credits

The StepdadHenry VMary Shelley's FrankensteinIn the Bleak MidwinterFrozen

Stage credits

At Christmas in 2010 Prendergast played the role of Sarah the Cook in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, directed by Steve Marmion. The production was given excellent reviews, with the Daily Telegraph declaring that Prendergast, in his pantomime debut, had created the "finest, funniest pantomime Dame in London". In early 2010 he played Mr Boo in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice by Jim Cartwright at the Vaudeville Theatre, London. The play was directed by Terry Johnson. Shaun was also involved in Glamour by Stephen Lowe, and directed by Bill Alexander at Nottingham Playhouse; and in Searching for Tom Hadaway for Live Theatre, which he also wrote and directed. Other appearances include:
Other theatre credits include Grace, Twelfth Night, Candida,, Dracula, Spot the Lady, A View from the Bridge, Strippers,, Twelve Tales of Tyneside, Sisterly Feelings, As You Like it, and The Miser.

Radio credits

plus more than two hundred individual plays

Writing credits

Television and radio

Multiple episodes of:
  • The Roman Mysteries
  • Rocket Man
  • The Lightning Kid
  • My Parents Are Aliens
  • EastEnders
  • Grafters
  • Equinox
  • Microsoap
  • ''Soldier Soldier''

Film

  • Rebel Zone
  • The Stepdad
  • Henry V
  • Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
  • In the Bleak Midwinter
  • Frozen
  • Bye Bye Columbus
  • Harrigan
  • Stupid Cults
  • Rudolph & His New Friend Frosty
  • ''Mikey The Canary''

Theatre writing

In 2013 The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World was presented at the Brick Theatre in Brooklyn and the Tympanic Theatre in Chicago. Earlier that year, Julia Pastrana's body had been returned from Oslo to her birthplace in Mexico. An article in The New York Times credited Prendergast's play as being the inspiration for the campaign to have Julia Pastrana repatriated to her birthplace.

Adaptations

  • Cinderella
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • The Giant Prince
  • The Three Musketeers
  • The Canterville Ghost
  • ''The Day of the Triffids''

Television

  • The Lightning Kid
  • Rocket Man
  • Soldier Soldier
  • EastEnders
  • Grafters
  • Equinox
  • My Parents are Aliens
  • Microsoap.

Radio

  • Open Mike
  • Kiss Me Quick
  • Only the Good Die Young
  • Phoenix England
  • A Fake's Progress
  • Travellin' Light
  • The Bee-Keeper's Apprentice
  • Spread a Little Happiness
  • ''The Goldfish Bowl''