Praise for Rob Johnson

Writing

"He has a gift with words - truly, it is a joy to read anything Rob makes. His sentences contain such perfect twists, twists that take your breath away."

• Virginia Gay

“A beautifully rounded and enthralling story … recounted through the perspective of an immaculately sustained, compelling and otherworldly child narrator. Deeply compassionate, and an entirely absorbing and cohesive read: it’s just wonderful.”

• Lucy Treloar (dark about the light)

“A beautifully told story about the love between a father and his son … This is beautiful, clear writing with a gentleness that is profoundly moving.”

• Hal Porter Short Story Prize judges’ report (the tree)

“A lyrical and bittersweet tale.”

• Gippsland Writers’ Network judges’ report (Evaporate)

“Weird and wonderful … I was totally captivated by the story’s gentle melancholy and humour, as well as Rob’s distinctive and unique voice. It’s clear that playful, entertaining and thoughtful pieces are just his style.”

• Emily Riches, Aniko Magazine (Bart)

“The weed as colonial force plays a powerful role in [this edition] … Rob Johnson’s brash narrator takes us through a story that makes this battle personal in ‘View Vigilance’, and ultimately allies humans and weeds with a sense of belonging.”

• Claire Albrecht, The Suburban Review (View Vigilance)

“One of the funniest sketch comedy shows you’ll see this side of politics.”

• John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald (The Recidivists)

“A dark and twisty journey into the depths of the human mind.”

• Jade Kops, Broadway World (The Recidivists)

Acting

“The show peaks any time Rob Johnson is on stage.”

• Manon Luthra, State of the Art (The Boomkak Panto)

“Stealing the show is Rob Johnson who, as the central (property developer) villain and as local idiot Butch, uses toxic masculinity in its various guises to generate unremitting laughter. Johnson’s timing and sense of mischief are an absolute joy.”

• Suzy Wrong, Suzy Goes See (The Boomkak Panto)

“In his second role as the Big Developer (alongside Butch), the young Rob Johnson clearly has a ball … Johnson wrings every ounce of theatrical nectar from his dual roles.”

• Kate Prendergast, Limelight Magazine (The Boomkak Panto)

“Scene-stealer … Johnson manages to wring all the comedic potential out of Francis Fryer, and offers delicious hints that the character has something bigger happening just underneath the surface.”

• Ben Neutze, The Daily Review (Calamity Jane)

“Rob Johnson, among many responsibilities, has the wit and wickedness to play 'old Doc Pierce' with a juvenile coarseness and follows it with Francis Fryer, a hilarious and endearing invention, that in my estimation launches Mr Johnson into a kind of centre-stage stardom in the making.”

• Kevin Jackson, Theatre Diary (Calamity Jane)

“Rob Johnson (the hapless showpony Francis Fryer) … sparkle[s] mischievously.”

• Jason Blake, The Sydney Morning Herald (Calamity Jane)

“[A] force of nature … When he takes the audience on a ride through Merrily We Roll Along’s “Franklin Shepard, Inc” it is masterful – his clarity and humour and frustration and regret are so worth the price of admission alone.”

• Cassie Tongue, AussieTheatre (Sondheim on Sondheim)

“...the rather impressive Rob Johnson whose substantial, Protean talents are called for in playing almost everyone else.”

• Clive Paget, Limelight Magazine (Of Thee I Sing)

“The success of this was largely due to Johnson’s genuineness on stage. He made some excellent choices, including an unflappable optimism which made the audience fall (just a little bit) in love with him too.”

• Sydney Abba, Dinner and a Show (Carrie the Musical)

Photo credit: Victoria Nelson