Gary
ACTOR - PRESENTER - SINGER - DIRECTOR
L Johnson
PAST
PRODUCTIONS
2024
A LETTER FROM BLACKPOOL
2024 (GLJ Core Theatre production)
Hello Mum from Sunny Blackpool! Well Sunny-ish. I just had to send you a quick letter to tell you about our holiday so far. We’ve been up The Tower and took a trip on the tram, but we’ve just seen this fantastic show called “A Letter from Blackpool”. It was a collection of letters (some real and some not) sent from the town. Some lovely, some sad, some happy, some dark secrets told. But how is it that all these letters come from one little town. I can’t wait to tell you more about it when we get home. Love Gary
WAITERS V CHEFS
2024 (GLJ Youth Theatre production)
Welcome to Cafe La Tea the best or worst restaurant in the land. One night a group of customers came in for a meal of CORNFLAKES. CORNFLAKES! But what was going on behind the scenes...
The chefs didn't want to work with these waiters so a war was called!
Who won the battle - we're still not sure!
2023
Emperors New Clothes
Christmas 2023 Panto
There once was an Emperor who had a curst placed upon him by a wicked fairy. The curst made him a very vain person who just loved his clothes. His love of clothes made everyone else in the town very poor - he even called his own mother a fashion disaster. One day two boys arrived in the town and started causing mischief - the perfect friends for a wicked witch who wants to take over the town. Her plan is to make the Emperor flee and leave the town so she can take over, will her plan work or will these new weavers with the invisible material have other plans?
A Trip to Wonderland
Summer 2024 Tour
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is one of the most loved stories in the world, and has been brought to the stage many times and GLJ Theatre is bringing the magic back once again. The Queen of Hearts is even more mad than normal, the Mad Hatter wants more time as always and Alice just wants to get home.
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GLJ Theatre was grateful to tour many local community centres and buildings in Wellingborough during the summer of 2024.
Pinocchio
2023 (A Play in a week Production)
Once upon a time a man called Geppetto wished upon a star and a young puppet boy called Pinocchio came to life. However Geppetto's life was set to change forever. When a Cat and a Fox take Pinocchio down the wrong path and a sea monster takes the town in fear. Who will survive this tale?
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GLJ Theatre was super proud to create this 45 minuet performance in just 5 days!
Party in the Park
GLJ CELEBRATION
Join GLJ Theatre as they celebrate the last 8 years of GLJ MAGIC. Our special cast from our YOUTH THEATRE, CORE and PAST SHOWS come together to perform some classic songs from shows gone by.
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Matilda Jr
2023 (Summer Production)
Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!
OUR WELLY STORY
2023 (Project supported by MADE WITH MANY)
We all know the stories from days gone past in Wellingborough. The Zoo with the poor polar bear, John Lee School and the old “cold” swimming pool… but what are the stories that our young people will tell future generations? GLJ Theatre is proud to create a brand-new physical theatre show called OUR WELLY STORY – which will tell the stories through movement alone, of the young people today. What does Wellingborough mean to them? Is it a cool place to live or is it sometimes scary? Is the carnival still a highlight of the year or is a trip to the Castle more exciting. Find out the young people’s point of view.
TUESDAY
2023 (Performed by GLJ Core)
Part of the National Theatre Connections
(Glamis Hall & Royal Theatre, Northampton)
Tuesday is light, playful and nuanced in tone. And a little bit sci-fi.
The play centres on an ordinary Tuesday that suddenly turns very weird indeed when a tear rips across the sky over the school yard. Not only that, but it starts sucking up pupils and staff while at the same time raining down a whole new set of people. But then, that’s what happens when parallel worlds collide!
Confusion reigns as the ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ try to work out what is going on. How are Ash and Magpie identical? Can Billy cope with having his sister back? Who is Franky?
Eventually, though, cracks appear between the two groups. As the air here starts to disagree with the ‘Them’, the race is on to try to get things back to how they were and safely return everyone to the Universe they came from.
The play touches on themes of friendship, sibling love, family, identity, grief, bullying, loneliness and responsibility. And in the process we might just learn something about ourselves as well as some astronomical theories of the multiverse!
SHHHHH!
2023 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
What is better than a good night in the theatre! Nothing... unless everyone is making lots of noise. Shall we ask them to be quiet or SHHHH them even louder? What to do? The audience is a key part of the experience - more key that normal.
Join GLJ Youth Theatre for a brand new show experience when your the star of the show. To find out more book a ticket and come and see why we're telling you to Shhhh!
2022
CINDERELLA
2022 (Christmas Pantomime)
GLJ Theatre is back at GLAMIS HALL once again with a magical way to start your Christmas celebrations! Join us as we bring the story of Cinderella to life with her best friend Buttons. Be carful we've heard two ugly sisters are out to cause trouble! Get ready to shout out, singalong and BOOOO as loud as you possibly can at
GLJ Theatre's biggest pantomime to date.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
2022 (A play in a week)
"It's the best week of the year!"
This year we're ready to take a trip to WONDERLAND and join Alice as she prepares to meet the QUEEN OF HEARTS, TWEEDLE'S and THE MAD HATTER!
THE VISITOR
2022 (Performed by GLJ Core)
Lockdown 2020... We'll never forget it because we were all locked inside.
Lockdown down 2020 will never be forgotten by 8 teenagers because of The Visitor.
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This thought provoking short play was the first to be performed by our new
GLJ CORE company.
THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
2022 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
Join GLJ YOUTH THEATRE as they tell the classic story of a boy who tells ties and plays jokes on his friends... but has he gone too far this time? One day Peter meets a wolf and no one believes him - can he save the town or his this one lie to far?
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Did you know this was our first youth theatre production after the lockdown restrictions had been lifted.
Seussical Jr
2022 (Summer Community Production)
Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that's been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant!
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GLJ Theatre was set to perform this show in 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the restrictions that was put in place by the UK Government.
2021
A TRIP TO OZ: THE PANTO
2021 (Christmas Pantomime)
PANTO is back at Glamis Hall this Christmas (oh, yes it is)! Join Dorothy as she takes A TRIP TO OZ this Christmas as we bring the much loved character back to life.
Will the Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion help Dorothy defeat the Wicked Witch or will she need to rely on Dame Glinda to save the day?
This was the first major GLJ Theatre production with no COVID restrictions.
THE SNOW QUEEN
2021 (A play in a week)
This year the team is ready to take the temperature down to freezing to present THE SNOW QUEEN! Participants will receive their scripts on the Monday and by the Friday they will be performing in a full show at The Kingsway Centre.
A TRIP TO OZ
2021 (Wellingborough Summer Tour)
GLJ Theatre is back with a brand-new family show for everyone to enjoy for FREE!
A TRIP TO OZ is set to tell the classic story of Dorothy as she flies up into the sky and lands in the magical land of Oz. Trying to escape from a Wicked old Witch Dorothy must work with the kind Fairy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and not forgetting her dog Toto to see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. But can he help her get home?
GLJ Theatre is proud to be working with MADE WITH MANY to produce this BRAND-NEW community production. COVID 19 safety measure are in place at this production!
2019
THE JUNGLE BOOK
2019 (Christmas show)
Join Mowgli as he grows up in the Jungle with many incredible characters including his best friend Baloo - but what happens when a evil tiger wants the man cub out of the jungle? Join the GLJ Theatre team who brought you A CHRISTMAS CAROL and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for a brand new Christmas adventure!
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
2019 (A play in a week)
Another local shop is about to close its doors for the final time as sales have dried up to breaking point! Then the best pair of shoes arrived mysteriously in the night.
Between me and you these were made by the magical elves.
Don’t believe me – stay awake tonight and you will see.
The One Hundred and One Dalmatians
2019 (Summer Community Show)
When Missis and Pongo's puppies go missing, the two Dalmatian parents know the scary Cruella de Vil has had something to do with it. After all, she adores furs, and the Dalmatians have such beautiful coats...The dogs' pets, Mr and Mrs Dearly, don't understand them, so it is up to Pongo and Missis to rescue their pups - with the help of all the dogs in England. This is a thrilling adventure - will they get there in time to save the pups?
This summer production was presented in the round (GLJs first production in this format)
CHEESY CHIP CABARET
2019 & 2020
Gary L Johnson, Ashleigh Howes and Luke White took to the stage for a special fundraiser for Glamis Hall and Earls Barton Methodist Church. A simple format - the audience come in and relax with some of the best entertainment whist eating very yummy cheesy chips.
AILIE AND THE ALIEN
2019 (Performed by GLJ Blackout Theatre)
Join Blackout Theatre for there Spring production - what would happen if the new kid in school is in fact an alien? Would they help you or would they want revenge for somthing out of this world?
SCHOOLS OUT!
2019 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
School's OUT! Which is great news! Or is it? What happens when a group of students get a school closed? Friendships are lost, education is disrupted and the students quickly realise that school is much more than just learning in class.
Did you know that this show was created in two parts with two different companies. The first part was set in WATERVALLY school in 1995 and the second was set in WATERVALLY school in 2015.
2018
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
2018 (Christmas Pantomime)
Once upon a time there lived a spoilt Prince who would do anything to gain more money – until one day when an evil fairy turned up at the castle and placed a curse on all who lived there. The curse transformed the Prince into a revolting Beast and started the countdown to his final days on earth.
Beauty, a simple town girl is thrown into trouble when she has to go and save her Papa from the grips of the horrid Beast.
She takes the brave decision to become a prisoner in the castle, but can she defeat the evil fairy’s curse?
With larger than life characters, classic songs and plenty of jokes – why not join us for our 2018 pantomime adventure?
THE LAST EASTER
2018 (Performed by GLJ Blackout Theatre)
We all know the story of Easter and how important it is to the christian year. GLJ Theatre was proud to be apart of the GOOD FRIDAY celebrations in Rushden by creating a brand new piece of street theatre.
THE HOUSE OF FOG
2018 (GLJ Blackout Theatre)
The House of Fog: by Peter Brammer
Timothy Rackonsfield is taking his northern fiancée Lucy Lackenspiel to Rackonsfield house to meet his parents. His mother tells Timothy about his father's fate and the curse placed on the house when he was a young boy. She then introduces him to the mysterious Count Silvio who claims he can remove the curse and set the ghost of his father and the other spirits to rest.
PUSS IN BOOTS
2018 (A play in a week)
THERE IS ONLY ONE CAT WHO CAN SAVE THE DAY!
Join us for our 2018 play in a week production! After the success of ROBIN HOOD the team are back once again to make a play in one week. Scripts will be given out on the Monday morning and the audience will be in on Friday night.
Once upon a time a young boy was given a cat by his father - this cat would prove to change the boys life forever! Finding the girl of his dreams, becoming best friends with a king and fighting a giant - all in a days work for a cat? But can his final challenge prove one paw to much?
PINOCCHIO THE MUSICAL
2018 (Summer community show)
"What was that we thought we heard a noise"! One day a simple toy maker (Geppetto) made a wish that he would have a son. A blue fairy made his wish partly come true and made a wooden boy come to life - PINOCCHIO. He was sent to school where he was tricked by a fox and a cat before making a trip to pleasure island to meet the man.
Will Geppetto be able to get Pinocchio home or will it be too late?
GLJ Theatre was delighted to work with Paul Boyd Musicals once again to bring our summer community show to the stage.
JAMES AND THE
GIANT PEACH
2018 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
An enormous rhinoceros escaped from London Zoo and has eaten James's parents. And it gets worse! James is packed off to live with his two really horrible aunts, Sponge and Spiker. Poor James is miserable, until something peculiar happens and James finds himself on the most wonderful and extraordinary journey he could ever imagine . . .
With Caterpillar, Centipede, Ladybird and many other friends to look after him – what could go wrong?
ALADDIN
2018 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
If you had three wishes what would you wish for?
That was the impossible question that faced our hero, Aladdin. With a Princess stuck in a palace and a mother who won’t keep her nose out of Aladdin's business, what will he wish for? Will he save the Princess or banish his mother forever.
Just when he thought he knew what to wish for a second spirit arrives on the scene.
2017
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
2017 (Christmas Pantomime)
Scooge by name and Scrooge by nature! Everyone knows that SCROOGE WE HATE YA! A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
With fun songs and a family of mice telling the story - what better way to kick start our Christmas productions.
ROBIN HOOD
2017 (A play in a week)
In a forest many years ago not far from here lived a man called robin and he travelled around with his marry band helping to steal from the rich and give to the poor! The evil king john is not happy about robins plans and orders the capture of our hero! A beautiful maid Marian is out and looking to change the way of peoples views but fails and gets caught by the nasty Sheriff of Notingham who has been set the task to put everyone in jail who can't pay there taxes!
Join GLJ Theatre as they have five days to create a brand new production of robin hood! Everyone who take part will be included within the final performance! The week will finish in a public performance!
ALICE THE MUSICAL
2017 (Summer community show)
Alice was a girl who was self opinionated - she was exceedingly polite and well educated but one day she followed a rabbit down a rabbit hole and ended up in a world of magic and crazy creatures. Can Alice use the MAD HATTER, QUEEN OF HEARTS and WHITE KNIGHT to get home or will it be OFF WITH HER HEAD?
GLJ Theatre was delighted to work with Paul Boyd Musicals to bring our first community show to life.
THE SNOW QUEEN
2017 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
This brand new production will follow the story of a young girl who is trying to save her brother from the evil Snow Queen - but with lots of twists and turns along the way, will she make it?
THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES
2017 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
GLJ Youth Theatre is back on stage again, and this time with the loved story THE EMPERORS NEWS CLOTHES. This brand new production will welcome new characters who will help the vain Emperor choose a brand new outfit fit for the town festival - but with some tricky Weavers around, what will he wear?
2016
Plain as Paper
2016 (Part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
What would you do in a room full of plain paper?
Draw a picture? Write a list? Or create a world with your imagination. Plain as Paper followed the story of a young man who did just that - but unknowingly to him his world was moments in real history. Diving into WW2, the queens coronation and 911. With humour and moments of sadness along the way our first Edinburgh fringe show was a hit with audiences.
THE PIED PIPER
2016 (Performed by GLJ Youth Theatre)
The Pied Piper is out to cause trouble, but with a gang of rats on his side what will happen to the residents of a small local town?