Godfrey Johnson

Godfrey Johnson is one of South Africa’s leading performing artists, with a singular reputation as a Cabaret Artist, Composer, Writer and Director.

The Fleur Du Cap award-winner’s unique voice continues to break new ground in multiple arenas. 2016 has seen the successful first run of Johnson's collaboration with Pieter-Dirk Uys on the musical 'Die Van Aardes van Grootoor'. In addition to composing the score, Johnson was both Musical and Theatrical Director, and led the ensemble.

‘Vaslav’- New Ground

With six-time Fleur du Cap nominations and numerous awards under his belt, Johnson broke new ground with the extraordinary oneman play, entitled ‘Vaslav’, which was cowritten and directed by equally unparalleled Lara Bye. A true theatrical triumph, ‘Valsav’ demands a formidable combination of skills and artistic depth, as reflected in the Fleur Du Cap’s 2015 nominations, in which Johnson became the first South African artist to be included in the following three categories:

- Best Actor in a Musical
- Best Performer in a One-Person Show
- Best Composer.

An exceptional diversity of categories for one show, much less one individual, it stands as a formal recognises his audiences’ time-honoured experience: Johnson’s simple solo performances are of a power and magnitude equal to the most elaborate of productions. 

Johnson recently brought ‘Valsav’ Johannesburg’s audiences, and Bye and Johnson are currently developing opportunities for European audiences, following interest from producers as far afield as Sweden and the Netherlands.

International Acclaim

Throughout his career, Johnson has delivered high-impact performances, and has a special place in audience's hearts and minds for his intimate and life-affirming delivery of Jaques Brel's work. At once dark and light, Johnson proves himself as much a dramatist as he is comedian. This ability also sees him bringing the songs and socialvignette's of Noel Coward’s life and times into the 21st century, bringing both him and Coward to new audiences, 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 nuances to shed new light on the experiences of today's political and social absurdities. Interspersing the songs of David Bowie, Diana Ross, Joe Jackson - and a haunting Leonard Cohen - with moments of high comedy, Unzipped introduces Johnson as a fine satiris.  He has developed three highly idiosyncratic characters who shed light on the hilarity and pathos of modern life - especially modern South African life.

Hailed by critics since its debut in April earlier this year, it is a highly distinct landmark on the local theatre scene.

Voiceovers, Teaching, Hosting, Directing and Coaching

Godfrey Johnson is a busy man, and between performing, writing and rehearsing, he brings his passion 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) - has entertained and inspired companies such as Nedbank, Pep Stores, Old Mutual, and even the South African Government. He worked with some of South Africa’s true theatrical giants, and is much in demand as composer, collaborator and mentor.