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The World of Godfrey Johnson
Music | Theatre | Mastery of Performance
Who is Godfrey Johnson?
Godfrey Johnson – Performer | Composer | Musician | Actor
Godfrey Johnson is one of South Africa’s leading performing artists, with a singular reputationas a Cabaret Artist, Composer, Writer and Director. The Fleur Du Cap award-winner’s uniquevoice continues to break new ground in multiple arenas.
2016 has seen the successful first run of Johnson’s collaboration with Pieter-Dirk Uys on themusical ‘Die Van Aardes van Grootoor’. In addition to composing the score, Johnson was bothMusical and Theatrical Director, and led theensemble.“He sings, he writes, he plays, he composes, he directs, heperforms, he listens, he laughs and he knows!Godfrey and I have been working together forover twenty years and every experience is a joyand an adventure onto new horizons. Throughhis patience and talent, Bambi Kellermannbecame a voice to be reckoned with in thewilderness of cabaret. I can’t wait for our nextventure!”
Pieter-Dirk Uys
‘Vaslav’- New Ground
With six-time Fleur du Cap nominations and numerous awards under his belt, Johnson brokenew ground with the extraordinary one-man play, entitled ‘Vaslav’, which was co-written anddirected by equally unparalleled Lara Bye. A true theatrical triumph, ‘Valsav’ demands aformidable combination of skills and artistic depth, as reflected in the Fleur Du Cap’s 2015nominations, in which Johnson became the first South African artist to be included in thefollowing three categories:
– Best Actor in a Musical
– Best Performer in a One-Person Show
– Best Composer.
An exceptional diversity of categories forone show, much less one individual, itstands as a formal recognises his audiences’time-honoured experience: Johnson’s simplesolo performances are of a power andmagnitude equal to the most elaborate ofproductions.
“Solo performances are no easy thing, but whenyou have all the elements coalescing as they dohere, it can be sublime…when you can tell astory with such passion, artistry, visual mastery,while illuminating something about life, it’ssomething special.”
Dianne de Beer, The Star
Johnson recently brought ‘Valsav’ Johannesburg’s audiences, and Bye and Johnson are currentlydeveloping opportunities for European audiences, following interest from producers as farafield as Sweden and the Netherlands.
International Acclaim
Throughout his career, Johnson hasdelivered high-impact performances,and has a special place in audience’shearts and minds for his intimate andlife-affirming delivery of JacquesBrel’s work. At once dark and light,Johnson proves himself as much adramatist as he is comedian. This abilityalso sees him bringing the songs andsocial vignettes of Noel Coward’s lifeand times into the 21st century, bringingboth him and Coward to newaudiences, and his Brel and Coward is
known from Montreal to London, and from Amsterdam to Boksburg.
Unzipping a very modern Cabaret
His current comedy-offering, ‘Unzipped’, sees Johnson using music, satire and comedic nuancesto shed new light on the experiences of today’s political and social absurdities. Interspersing thesongs of David Bowie, Diana Ross, Joe Jackson – and a haunting Leonard Cohen – withmoments of high comedy, Unzipped introduces Johnson as a fine satiris. He has developed threehighly idiosyncratic characters who shed light on the hilarity and pathos of modern life –especially modern South African life.
Hailed by critics sinceits debut in Aprilearlier this year, it is ahighly distinctlandmark on the localtheatre scene.
“…a masterpiece ofsatirical fun…(this is)caricature worthy ofJuvenal,” BeverleyBrommert, the CapeArgus.
“…it felt like I trulyheard these songs for thefirst time when theycame from Johnson’smouth and hands.Perhaps because hesneaks in his ownsatirical lyrics here and there, but he also owns every moment.” Marilou Snyders, What’s On CapeTown.
Voiceovers, Teaching, Hosting, Directing and Coaching
Godfrey Johnson is a busy man, and between performing, writing and rehearsing, he brings hispassion for life and people to bear on uplifting workplaces, students and theatre graduates.Godfrey – and his company of characters and songs (over 300 in his repertoire) – hasentertained and inspired companies such as Nedbank, Pep Stores, Old Mutual, and even theSouth African Government. He worked with some of South Africa’s true theatrical giants, and ismuch in demand as composer, collaborator and mentor.
“It was one of the most beautiful processes to witness. His kindness, generosity of spirit and beautifulsense of humour feed into every aspect of his work, and make working with him an absolute pleasure…Iwould work with him over and over again!” – Bianca Flanders
Movies, Advertisments and the Maintstream
Johnson has appeared in leadingroles in several full feature films,most recently appearing in theaward-winning ‘Once Upon aRoad Trip’, alongside GrahamWeir and Louw Venter, anddirected by David Moore. Hisappearance in two of the mostmemorable Klipdripft advertsmade him an important part ofone of Suth Africa’s highest-profile media campaigns duringthe 2010 Soccer World Cup.Johnson’s multiple talents and chameleonic appearance has seen him take lead roles in global advertisingcampaigns for major brands, including Cadburies, Kia, LG and Cipla Pharmacueticals.
Godfrey Johnson, Graham Weir and Louw Venter star in‘Once Upon a Road Trip’.
Find out more
Visit www.godfreyjohnson.com (http://www.godfreyjohnson.com) to view his performanceschedule and find an overview of his theatrical, corporate and musical services, and how toengage them.
Godfrey Johnson is available for corporate events, functions, and offers team buildingworkshops (including team song-writing).
Contact:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
074 792 8181 / 082 856 7333
One thought on “Who is Godfrey Johnson?”
1. Lindsay says: April 18, 2010 at 8:55 am Edit
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