Welcome!
Who Am I?
Glad you asked. I am an experienced actor, puppeteer and musician based in Penzance. I have a friendly and informal performance style, deft improvisational skills and a gently subversive sense of humour - which delights adults as well as children.
From 1999 - 2017 I was a member of Cornwall’s renowned Kneehigh Theatre, performing in major national and international tours such as Tristan & Yseult, Cymbeline, Don John, A Matter Of Life And Death and The Bacchae, as well as small-scale village hall shows, including directing and acting in Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.
Last word...
I am currently a member of The Minack Theatre Company, recently appearing in The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch, The Railway Children and The Secret Garden.
I also appeared in Alaska from Blackfish Theatre, One Darke Night from o-region theatre, the film Tin (dir. Bill Scott) and the short Cornish language films An Jowl Yn Agas Kegin (dir.Brett Harvey) and KoninHa Pryv (dir. Laura Hardman). I have also created and directed several theatre performances for The Eden Project, Cornwall.
I spent many years as a professional street performer, appearing at The Millennium Dome, Glastonbury Festival, Manchester Street Arts Festival, Leeds Streets Ahead, Cowes Week Isle of Wight and festivals in Holland, Belgium and the USA.
My aim with Squashbox Theatre is to create shows that are funny, friendly, surprising, inspiring, unusual, informative (and a little bit mischievous!), and which use traditional puppetry and storytelling skills in an exciting and innovative way. (And did I mention funny?)
All Squashbox performances celebrate nature, science, generosity, tolerance and diversity, employing a wholly secular view of this astounding and beautiful world around us.
Hello there!
Welcome to the ingenious, ridiculous, inspiring, surprising, comical, musical, educational, ecological world of Squashbox Theatre.
My name is Craig Johnson and I am a performer, musician and puppeteer living in Penzance, Cornwall.
As a solo artist I perform under the name Squashbox Theatre, creating marvellous, quirky and inventive shows incorporating puppetry, storytelling, natural history, live music and comedy.
I created Squashbox Theatre in 2007 with the aim of providing quality entertainment for children and families in Cornwall. Since then my shows (The Sea Show, Skillywidden, Stones And Bones, Curious Creatures, Tales from the Trees, Myths and Monsters, The Christmassy Christmas Show, Shivers and Shadows and Journey to the Stars) have been performed at schools, theatres, festivals and events from Cornwall to Kendal and from Exeter to Essex, including TEN sell-out summer seasons at the famous Minack Theatre near Land’s End.
Book now for your theatre, arts centre, school, festival, village hall or event!
“Johnson's natural rapport and good humoured fun with the young people make this an absolute celebration of all that is good about theatre for children.”
Petra Schofield, Whatsonstage.com
"Craig's success lies in the fact that he talks to, rather than at, his young audience while involving them in the action as far as he possibly can, and he does it all with a huge sense of joy and fun that is as inspiring as it is infectious. An engaging entertainer to be treasured."
Frank Ruhrmund, The Cornishman newspaper
"Craig Johnson is a consummate actor of rare skills. Totally at ease with his audience - adult and child alike - he combines an innate understanding and delight in storytelling with fantastic comic and musical skill."
Mike Shepherd, Founder and Company Director Kneehigh Theatre
"Just the right balance of humour, fun, wit and education. Keep up the excellent work, you are a true talent and the kids really appreciate you"
Audience feedback, Minack Theatre
News
Autumn News
2024 AUTUMN & WINTER PERFORMANCE DATES BELOW!! (Scroll down)
'Squashbox Songs'
Volume Two is here:
'MORE Squashbox Songs!'
FINALLY, IT'S HERE! The long-awaited second volume of songs and music from Squashbox Theatre!
Seven amazing tracks, including 'The Gods of Ancient Greece' from Myths and Monsters, 'Quietly Saving the World' from Tales from the Trees and 'Shiver and Scream' from my Halloween show Shivers and Shadows.
Plus another four never-heard-before tracks designed to get you tapping your toes and humming along.
Download the whole EP for only £6.00 here
2024 Autumn and
Winter Dates
Sat 28th Sept
2pm - The Sea Show
Rakker Storytelling Festival, Chyan Cultural Centre, Penryn, Cornwall
https://chyan.org/2024/09/08/rakker-storytelling-festival/
Sun 29th Sept
2pm - The Sea Show
Rakker Storytelling Festival, Chyan Cultural Centre, Penryn, Cornwall
https://chyan.org/2024/09/08/rakker-storytelling-festival/
Sun 6th Oct
11am & 2pm - Stones and Bones
Trevow (The Old Chapel), Helston, Cornwall
https://www.trevowhelston.co.uk/stones-and-bones
Sun 27th Oct
4pm & 7pm - Shivers and Shadows
The Acorn Theatre, Penzance, Cornwall
https://www.theacornpenzance.com/events/shivers-and-shadows-by-squashbox-theatre/
Mon 28th Oct
11.30am - Shivers and Shadows
Dorchester Arts Centre. Dorchester, Dorset
https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/2024/08/06/mon-28-october-shivers-shadows-squashbox-theatre/
Tues 29th Oct
11.30am - Shivers and Shadows
The Horton Arts Centre, Epsom, Surrey
https://thehortonepsom.org/events/shivers-and-shadows/
Weds 30th Oct
2pm - Shivers and Shadows
Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, Berkshire
https://arlingtonarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873646691
Thurs 31st Oct
11am & 2pm - Shivers and Shadows
Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds, Yorkshire
https://www.carriageworkstheatre.co.uk/whatson-event/shivers-and-shadows/
Sun 3rd Nov
11am & 2pm - Shivers and Shadows
Trevow (The Old Chapel), Helston, Cornwall
https://www.trevowhelston.co.uk/shivers-and-shadows
Sat 30th Nov
11am & 2pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
https://www.quayarts.org/event/the-christmassy-christmas-show-of-christmassy-christmasness/
Fri 6th Dec
4,30pm & 6.30pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Trevow (The Old Chapel), Helston, Cornwall
https://www.trevowhelston.co.uk/christmassy-christmas-show
Sat 7th Dec
11am & 2pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmases
St Endellion Hall, St Endellion, Cornwall
Sat 14th Dec
2pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
https://www.bridport-arts.com/event/christmassy-christmas-show-of-christmassy-christmasness/
Sun 15th Dec
11.30am & 2.30pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl, Cymru
https://awenboxoffice.com/whats-on/the-christmassey-christmas-show-of-christmassey-christmas-aym/
Sat 21st Dec
2pm & 4pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Sterts Theatre, Upton Cross, Cornwall
https://tickets.sterts.co.uk/sales/events/the-christmassy-christmas-show
Sun 22nd Dec
11am & 1pm - The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness
Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton, Hampshire
https://www.hangerfarm.co.uk/whats-on/the-christmassy-christmas-show-of-christmassy-christmasness/
Mon 30th Dec
3pm - The Sea Show
Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall
https://www.minack.com/whats-on/sea-show