THE DIARY OF A FOOL

My clown apprenticeship began at Oval House London and in that city's streets in the 70s. A time when a Labour government was supporting various social projects in kids playgrounds, prisons, hospitals, schools and old people homes. Theatre was alive in the streets and in situations where it had never been taken before. It was my 'school' and it was a wonderful time.

The 60s revolution had flowered from hippy power and anti war movements into punk on one level and community harmony on oanother. New kinds of cultural projects started to mushroom around Britain with such artistic geniuses and conceptualists as John Fox (Welfare State), Pip Simmons, the late Peter Oliver at Oval House, Jeff Nuttall, the People Show with Mike Figgis (now a prominent film director), Reg Bolton (sadly now deceased)at Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh, theatre-collective Footsbarn Theatre in Cornwall and various others across Britain.

In 1975 Jango Edwards, an American clown who upset some and excited many with his outrageous nouveau-Burlesque exported a branch of this new art form across to Europe. This featured a new marriage - comedy/clown and the modern music scene: Amsterdam, the drug city of the European 70s became the centre for an exciting new form of entertainment and performers from all over the world started to make pilgrimages there.

The movement was centred around what was known as the Festival of Fools, and reached a pinnacle in 1980 at the Theatre of Nations in Amsterdam. Later during the next 5 years this spread like wildfire across Europe to Rome, Scandinavia, Spain etc

Only one year earlier Margaret Thatcher had arrived in Downing Street and overnight had precipitated a complete restructuring of subsidised theatre in Britain....

One of Mrs T's first decrees was to cut the lifeline to any experimental or community projects in the UK...educational and many artistic programs were slashed mercilessly especially those seen to have any political connection.

Mrs T. had announced that industry- not government - should sponsor the arts. This ensured that most political theatre or anything loosely regarded as 'dangerous' or 'undesirable' as art forms more or less disappeared. or went abroad, depending on the style of theatre involved.

For those working with the more physical and visual styles the European continent was wide open and indeed ravenous for this new and very appealing entertainment.

Festivals blossomed all over Europe. Some still exist today (like Oerol festival in the Netherlands) but most have changed with the times. The repercussions of the Festival of Fools are still being felt today since many of today's younger artists across Europe were directly influenced by those they saw perform......

review of EUROPEAN BLUES
Sueca festival (Valencia, Spain) 2006

El teatro no está en crisis. Así se ha demostrado en el XVI festival de MIM de Sueca, el evento teatral más enraizado y populoso de la Comunidad Valenciana.

Más de 20.000 almas han llenado este año los múltiples espacios donde se celebra. La ciudad ha sido tomada por el teatro durante cinco días ininterrumpidos, en los que se han podido ver 19 compañías de raigambre local, nacional e internacional.

Cada año el MIM tiene un lema unificador. Este año ha sido Europa, realidad histórica, geográfica y política que ahora mismo debate su identidad contemporánea. Quizá esta coherencia temática no haya quedado circularmente cerrada como en otras ediciones, ya que muchos espectáculos se incrustaban forzadamente en el lema, aunque otros se ciñeron al concepto propuesto.

Este fue el caso del más exitoso de todos los montajes programados, el tituladoEuropean Blues , interpretado por Johnny Melville, auténtico genio escocés del teatro gestual. Con cerca de 60 años, Melville arrebató al público con su potencial de expresión física, ingenio para la improvisación y corrosivo humor. Su propuesta se basaba en un hipotético acto terrorista en la sede de la Unión Europea, que una especie de James Bond debía neutralizar. Esta trama fue sólo una excusa para poner en solfa la hipotética nueva Europa y sus representantes políticos, que fueron aludidos y vapuleados con deslumbrante sarcasmo. El aplauso fue clamoroso.

Otro plato fuerte era el célebre grupo catalán Vol Ras, que vino con su último trabajo: Mondomono Evocando el clásico cinematográfico El planeta de los simios , este espectáculo trataba sobre la vida en la tierra de tres supervivientes tras una hecatombe nuclear.

Con una escenografía más poderosa de la que suelen utilizar, los tres intérpretes de la compañía plantearon el día a día de unos hombres perdidos en la historia y el tiempo, esclavizados por un tótem de la devastada sociedad capitalista.

Siguiendo su particular línea de creación, el espectáculo anduvo entre el humor blanco y la búsqueda de un tono lírico, poético, reforzado con abundante repertorio musical. El resultado se inclinó hacia un punto de cierta sensiblera.

También inspirados en el cine, esta vez de aventuras, la igualmente compañía catalana Trotam Teatre revivió en su pieza Affaire Kepher la vieja historia de un arqueólogo que debe batirse por el hallazgo de una misteriosa joya egipcia.

Su mágica posesión dará la victoria a los aliados o a los nazis en la II Guerra Mundial. Hay que destacar en este montaje una construcción argumental clásica, progresiva, muy bien estructurada, y una original realización de las acciones más tópicas del género, redescubiertas por un planteamiento mímico de admirable ejecución.

Por último, uno de los espectáculos más poderosos del teatro de calle fue traído desde Barcelona por el grupo Sèmola Teatre, que en la plaza de Sant Pere puso en pie una gran estructura metálica que simbolizaba un edificio en construcción. Con gran impulso al inicio, que después menguó, el objetivo era mostrar cómo se construye una casa, en este caso la casa del teatro, al tiempo de inventar a sus posibles moradores.

Teatro de acción, de impacto sensorial, que convenció al público frente a una incipiente tormenta de lluvia. Pero lo que en verdad nos ha convencido, una vez más, es el relámpago del MIM con su estallido de excelente teatro.

1973

Company-/stage-manager/actor of FREEHOLD THEATRE, London: the 'Beowulf' tour and 'Koolyghin' in 'The Three Sisters' (Checkov), directed by Nancy Meckler.

Performed 'RIFFRAFF' with John Bolton -a late night show at the EDINBURGH Festival

Performer with 'RITUAL THEATRE', (UK) on European tour.

Project leader/tutor of the Summer School for Radical Theatre, Oval House London (including events at Serpentine Gallery, London).

1974

Director/ actor of 'SALAKTA BALLOON BAND', London.

1977

Founder/director/writer/actor of 'KABOODLE Theatre Co', London - toured UK, Italy, Germany, Holland, Greece

1978

Premiered first solo show < COME AGAIN > at Festival of Fools, Amsterdam, Holland

1980

Premiered solo show TROUBLESHOOTER at the Festival of Theatre of Nations, Amsterdam.

Played JOHNNY AGAIN in feature film WHAT'S THE BEEF RODO? directed by Hans Joachim Berndt (Filmhaus, Munchen)

1981

Released the record < THE WEE ALBUM > Nurnburg, Germany.

1982

Premiered solo show MEMBERS ONLY at Vienna Festival.

Co-wrote music for/ acted in BLOOD AND CHAMPAGNE directed by Marika Lagercrantz, (Stockholm)

1983

Premiered solo show MEMBERS ONLY at Vienna Festival.

Co-wrote music for/ acted in BLOOD AND CHAMPAGNE directed by Marika Lagercrantz, (Stockholm)

Performed at the Nancy Festival of World Theatre, France.

Workshop leader at the first 3rd World Dance intensive in Vienna.

1984

Studied and performed drumming/dance with Mustapha Tetty Addy in Togo

Performed at the official Adelaide International Festival, Australia

Starred as THEO, in TV film GAME OVER (Austria's entry for the International T.V. Festival of Montreux directed by Peter Saman (ORF TV)

Founder/director/writer/actor of the INTERNATIONALISTS', formulated, wrote, directed and starred in the project < IT DON'T MEAN A THING > for the Theater, am Turm, Frankfurt.

1985

Devised/directed < MUSICAL MONKS > for the International Festival of Cabaret (Homo Ridens) di Bologna, Italy.

1986

Premiered solo show < DIRTY MONEY > as a special project for the 'Off-T.A.T'., Frankfurt, directed by Matt Mitler.

1987

Produced the record < DIRTY MONEY - the ALBUM >, and toured DIRTY MONEY- the show, in Europe.

Performed at the International Festival of Clowns, Tokyo.

Performed at "The JOHNNY MELVILLE FESTIVAL" a ten day retrospective, Aarhus, Denmark, featuring all 5 solo performances.

1988

Appeared in rock video < TIED UP > music single by YELLO.

Directed cabaret performance for Boulevard Theatre, Stockholm.

Master of Ceremonies at Aarhus Rock Festival Orange Stage (Denmark)

Appeared in Commercial for RALLY TV, Stockholm

1989

Played leading role, BERTO, in Italian feature film, "LUNGO IL FIUME", directed by Vanna Paoli. (Corvo Productions, Cine Citta, Rome.)

Premiered THE BEST OF JOHNNY, solo show of Johnny's best acts.

Master of Ceremonies on the 'Orange Stage' at Roskilde Rock Festival (Denmark).

1990-1

Played leading role, BERTO, in Italian feature film, "LUNGO IL FIUME", directed by Vana Paoli. (Corvo Productions, Cine Citta, Rome.)

Premiered THE BEST OF JOHNNY, solo show of Johnny's best acts.

Master of Ceremonies on the 'Orange Stage' at Roskilde Rock Festival Denmark

Starred as BASTA in feature film "ONCE UPON A DREAM", directed by Dieter Meier (Potocka Prods, Warsaw, Poland/Yello Music, Zurich, Switzerland

Appeared in Commercial for RALLY TV, Stockholm

Performed at JUSTE POUR RIRE ( Just for Laughs) Festival, Montreal, Canada

Featured as THE MISSIONARY in feature film "THE RETURN", directed by Jens Joren Thorsen (Superfilm Prods, Copenhagen)

Played PATTERSON in feature film, "ESCRITO EN LAS ESTRELLAS" directed by Ricard Reguant (Fair Play Prods, Barcelona)

Invited artist as JERRY in episode 2 of "DARK JUSTICE" directed by David Calloway (Lorimar Prods, Los Angeles and TV3, Barcelona Spain.)

1992

Played BASTA in feature film "ONCE UPON A DREAM", directed by Dieter Meier (Potocka Prods, Warsaw, Poland/Yello Music, Zurich, Switzerland)

Starred in and co-wrote BLUEVILLE SERENADE, a rock musical in Amsterdam, Holland.

Directed animation group/performed solo in the Olympic Village for the Olympic Games and the Special Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain

Appeared in Commercial for RALLY TV, Stockholm

1993

Dr. BUTTER(lead) in 16mm 30 minute movie, "KILLER BERBERECHOS", (BAUSAN FILM Prods., Barcelona) directed by Andres Cruz

Wrote/ acted in short comedy sketches for PINNIC, children's programme, TVE 1, Spain

Performed in Cabaret tent, Roskilde Festival, Denmark

Performed at Just for Laughs' Festival, Montreal, Canada

Master of Ceremonies at Aarhus Festival Spiegel tent, Denmark.

First shoots of feature film SCAPEGOAT,(Dir. Michael Summers)

Performed for the Queen of Denmark at Aarhus Festival

1994

Spent most of the year recovering from a serious accident

Master of Ceremonies at Cabaret Tent, Roskilde Festival.

Writing the project BORIS the DRAGON, a multi-media fantasy.

Directed MEMBERS ONLY for Inter-Kulturel Centre, Aarhus, Denmark.

Appeared in Commercial for RALLY TV, Stockholm

1995

Post-production for "ONCE UPON A DREAM" in Los Angeles.

TV commercial for Sun Alliance Insurance, (London)

Cinema commercial for Teleclub TV Channel, Zurich

Tours of Spai

1996

Played HARLEY(lead) in feature film, "NO MAN'S LAND", directedby Nina Rosenmeier (Flora Danica Film, Copenhagen)

Worked on 'station-identity' shorts for Teleclub, Zurich

Directed Aarhus Artiste-School final production (Denmark)

1997

Director of new show for the group, PORPOL, Vitoria (Spain)

Directed workshop project for Festival of Araia, Spain

Director of the Aarhus Artist School final production (Denmark)

Extra shoots for "NO MAN"S LAND" directed by Nina Rosenmaier (Flora Danica Film, Copenhagen)

1998

Celebrated 50 years on the planet; Celebrated 25 years in show business

Performed for displaced Indians in Chapas, Mexico for 'Clowns without Frontiers

Performed as guest in Mexico City's largest circus at their 100 year anniversary.

Toured Holland, Austria, Switzerland

Premiered MEMBERS ONLY in Spanish at Taraga Festival

1999

Toured EUROPEAN BLUES in Austria, Holland, Spain

TV project in process in connection with Bellissima Channel, Amsterdam

Preliminary stages of planning directing for multi-media project with Sound Venture, Aarhus, DK

Shot commercial for BECEL margerine, Holland

Invited artist at the festival of Mime, Troyes, France.

Studied F.S.P. course 2 and 3 of Pleiadian Lightwork. Gained certificate to teach F.S.P.

2000

Starred as Richard in FAR FROM CHINA a, feature film by director Christian Leigh, Films Copenhagen

Appeared at Festival of Mime. London

Co-lead in a 20-minute 35 mm movie by Geppe Monros, Barcelona

Presenter of the Congress of World Veterinarians before Princess Margriet of Holland.

Guest performance/teacher at the 3rd Congress of Nordic drama.

Finishing shooting/post production for LIGHT-MAKER (director Dieter Meier) in Los Angeles for Yello Productions..

2001

Performance for Danish County Councils Conference

Premiere of LIGHTMAKER at Berlin Film Festival Panorama Special

Presenter for Toshiba Medical Systems at the Vienna Medical Congress

Performance at the Freiburger Kultur MesseVoted BEST ACTOR at Williamsburg Film Festival of Brooklyn, New York City, for the role of Harley in NO MAN'S LAND.

2002

Directing Missing Link Project, premiered november 2002 - production - LOOPS

Main roles in short film by Emil van Zuijlen - GEBROEDERS MOLL (Holland), and the film by Simon Falkentorp The QUARRY (Denmark)

MAYDAY in Jango Edwards pilot 'Thomas Clown Affair'

2003

Performed in Palazzo im Park, Bremen

Acting Charly in PUMP Netherlands film directed by Ad Boll

Appearance TV show on Swiss TV :live from Winthertur Casino

Directing the women's theatre company Mevrouw Bakker

Directed succesful workshop performance project at Oerol festival, Holland

Writing and directing Backtracker - a short movie in western genre.

Released The Warriors of Light New Album - The Rogue Planet

Performed in LA MAMA THEATRE, New York City, with theatre group DZIECI playing the role of TIRESIAS in ' FOOLS MASS' and the DEVIL /CARDINAL RICHELIEU in the production of DEVILS OF LOUDON

see critique

2004

Directing the musical comedy group THE PHEASANT PLUCKERS

Acting COOK in the short film LITTLE BROTHER, LITTLE SISTER directed by Greg McQueen, Aarhus Denmark

Directing and acting in ITS A WOMAN'S WORLD,at the Oerol festival Terschelling Holland.

2005

Appeared at the Comedy Monster festival. Rome

Tours of EUROPEAN BLUES of Spain, Italy.

Acting DAWSON in the movie WICKED directed by Michael Knighton

Editing the movie ITS A WOMANS WORLD

2006

Script editing for ZERO ONE, new screenplay for Ad Bol

Tours of EUROPEAN BLUES in Spain

Shooting short film clips for mobile fone movies

Directing TAD Brothers comedy performance, Berlin

Performances at the Torino Street festival JUST FOR JOY

Italian tour of European Blues

2007

Appered in short film HEARTCORE as the Artist at the Rutger Hauer Film Factory, Rotterdam Film Festival

Workshops in Luxembourg /Grenada/ Galicia /Dimitri school in Verscio (CH)

Test shoots in UK for International Brigade movie

Directing Tad Brothers at Edinburgh festival

Producing/shooting/acting in mobile movies for net

Made short film - Paradise Tours

2008

Starred inand co-wrote BLINDSPOT for Bol Productions in Holland

Johnny has appeared at theatre festivals in Adelaide, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London, Montreal, Nancy, Oslo, Rome, Stockholm, Tokyo, Vienna, Zurich and many others......and at film festivals in Cannes, Prague, Cairo, Locarno and Bellinzona. Has been featured in numerous television programs in the USA, Japan, and all over Europe.

He has led workshops and mounted projects in all the above places (and more!) with professional actors, with various amateur groups, wit