Anil Desai

Anil Desai began acting in 1989 Joining Theatre Workshops and working as an assistant in T.I.E Productions/Tours with The Tricycle Theatre. He began studying with Acting coach Anne Mitchell at The Interchange Studios/W.A.C in the early 90's. He got his first TV break as a guest lead on 'The Bill', and from there on he began working on a diverse body of work as an actor and comedian in TV, Theatre, Film and Radio. Alongside his Acting career, he began to create short sketches and physical comedy plays as a writer, director and performer with other interested Comedy Actors under the name of Quickchange Theatre - performing at a number of Theatre Festivals in England and abroad.

Having side stepped Drama School, and opting to learn 'on the job' Anil began to train himself with his natural abilities as a mimic and comic performer, he spent any spare time he had observing the many different people around him, be it his own friends and family or famous faces on screen - and by the end of the 90's Anil had built a very impressive repertoire of impersonations, voices and original characters.

In early 2000 Anil formed a new comedy sketch group called 'The Giant Pineapple boys', which showcased many of his talents as a Comedy actor, Impressionist and very funny visual Writer/Director. He spent the next 4 years performing with the boys around the circuit in London and performing new shows at the Edinburgh Festival (2001 - 2004). Also in 2004 Anil put his first character creation onto the circuit - RAJESH: The Bollywood Lounge Singer - and very soon found himself in the 'So You Think You're Funny?' awards Semi-finals and 'The Richard Pryor Award'. As well as that Anil had become one of the team behind the new late night comedy show 'SPANK!' at the Underbelly. 2004 became a very busy year for Anil, having spent his time focusing more and more in the world of Comedy, he began finding himself ready for anything and on a variety of bills in a variety of clubs working alongside some of the best comedians on the UK circuit today.

Nearing the end of 2005 Anil made the leap to do straight stand up, using his plethora of impressions, and is currently working and developing his set. He is also going out as his character 'Rajesh' after a smashingly successful 90minute Valentines Special at The Albany last month, where he was joined in his own feature length show by comedians Matt Kirshen, Carey Marx, Pete Jonas, Leon Fleury and Katy Brand. Anil Desai and Rajesh (often based at The Albany, Grt.Portland St.) will be playing throughout the year, look out for Rajesh's Feature length shows in the coming months in London.

FILM:
Sinbad Brown Like Me Wade Jacks Inif Films
Chetan Soda Welcome to Holloway Ben Robinson Holloway Productions
Jit Re-Ignited Jon Sen Ideal World Films/C4
Mark Superstar DJ (feature) Chris Griffiths CG Productions
Rahim Decreed Eleanor Kilroy HTV
Julini (Lead) Better Late Than Never Schuman Hoque Chulo Films
Tim (Lead) Lajool (feature) Aaron South Cumbersome Films
Mohit (Lead) Crucial Tales: Phoenix Kolton Lee Crucial Films/BBC
Tommy (Lead) The Drive Paul Sukhija Anglia TV
Mash Indian Tales Asif Kapadia Carlton TV

TV:
Amjit DasClark DoctorsKeen Eddie Darcia MartinSimon West BBCParamount Pictures TV
Carpet Fitter Mr.Charity Nick Wood BBC
Sound Man Orrible Dominic Brigstocke BBC
Aziz The Bill: Faultline John Davies Pearson TV
Doctor Barbara Nic Philips Carlton TV
Dhirin The Belief Files Uzma Mir-Young BBC Scotland
Various Goodness Gracious Me Nick Wood BBC
Sumit Mitra The Bill: Grey Matter Aisling Walsh Pearson TV

THEATRE:
Spiral ManleyTink The Onomatopoeia SocietyThe Fortune Club James CampbellKully Thiari Gilded Balloon Edin Fest.2005Tricycle / Leicester Haymarket
Donald ObayobeVarious The Nigerian Spam Scam ScamThe Giant Pineapple Boys Paul ProvenzaGiant Pineapple Boys The Pleasance Edin fest 2004Gilded Balloon Edin Fest 2001-4
Paul Let's Talk Business Ashmeed Sohoye Soho Theatre
Rajesh My Dad's Corner Shop Rufus Norris Birmingham Rep /Tour
The Detective What Shall We Do With The Body? Claire Williams The Man in the Moon Theatre
Shaam / Maan One Night Keith Khan Theatre Royal Stratford East
VP Corners (one man play) Tim Baker The Etcetera Theatre
Janga The Simpleton of Unexpected Isles Sam Walters The Orange Tree Theatre
Mirad Mirad, A Boy From Bosnia Robin Kyne National Theatre Studio
Young Man When Five Years Pass Annette Lyons The Emery Theatre
Maurice Deathwatch Rob Sheridan Southwark Playhouse
Pete The Promised Land Chris White Young Vic
Joey Cragg Road Lynn Sutcliffe Cockpit Theatre
Clark Hanky Panky Dean Hill Tricycle Theatre

RADIO:
Parv From Bangalore With Love David Hunter BBC Radio 4
DJ Saf Mela Mania Sue Roberts BBC Radio 4
Shahab The Balti Kings (series) Kristine Landon Smith BBC Pebble Mill
Various Survival Kit Sue Cockyll BBC World
Kishor The Red Oleander Nandita Ghose BBC Radio 4

Other: Commercials, Voiceovers, Corporate/ Music/ Promo Videos, Presenting, Photo Modelling, Role-Play
Founder member of Comedy groups 'The Giant Pineapple Boys' (2001-) and Quickchange Theatre (1991-2002).
Actor / Resident Director with The Rocliffe Company of Actors & The Rocliffe Forum (RCA 2001-)