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Welcome!
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Who Am I?

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​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!



 

 

 

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“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
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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

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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​

https://endelienta.org.uk/whats-on/the-christmassy-christmas-show-of-christmassy-christmasness-morning-performance/

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/

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Mon 30th Dec

3pm  - The Sea Show

Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall

https://www.minack.com/whats-on/sea-show

 

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