After its outstanding success at last year’s Brisbane Festival, JOHNNO recently played at the Derby Playhouse in the UK to rave reviews.

Described by The Derby Evening Telegraph as ‘visually stunning ……it has bothcinematic beauty and theatrical eloquence’, JOHNNO has captured the attention of British audiences.

“JOHNNO is superb. Any superlative you can use to describe it is probably justified.”

British Theatre Guide (March 2007)

This quintessential Brisbane story brings to life the emotional adventures of two friends, Dante and Johnno, following their unlikely relationship for three decades. The play is based on Booker Prize nominee David Malouf’s iconic novel, with the groundbreaking play adapted and directed by Stephen Edwards, Joint Artistic Director, Derby Playhouse.

The adaptation of this seminal Australian novel is ‘a thought provoking, intense,moving piece’ according to the British Theatre Guide.

Commissioned and produced by Brisbane Festival 2006, the Derby season featured members of the original cast: Paul Denny in the role of Johnno and Sean Mee as Dante. Both have been applauded for their excellent performances in the UK production.

“The music, like a Philip Glass film score, adds texture to the production and Denny and Mee, as polar opposites, are perfectly cast.”

The Derby Evening Telegraph (March 2007)

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