The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius - 132 Welcome To The Clearing: Musician, Composer, Collaborator & "Underscorer of Life" - Thomas F Johnson

132 Welcome To The Clearing: Musician, Composer, Collaborator & "Underscorer of Life" - Thomas F Johnson

12/07/22 • 51 min

The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius

‘I’m Thomas Johnson, I live in the Cotswolds in the UK. I have composed hundreds of scores for all sorts of different kinds of theatre - tiny studios, mid-scale theatres, in parks, in schools, on Broadway, on the beach, from Minnesota to Moscow - ranging from solo harp to full orchestra.

I greatly enjoy the collaborative process of theatre, and have a passion for working closely to text, believing that a musical underscore can be a proactive and exciting tool in shedding light on meaning; and music can of course be transcendent, travel beyond meaning, detonate a theatrical moment in a way that nothing else can.

I’m also passionate about choral music. Human voices, singing in harmony, thrill like nothing else. There’s something incredibly moving about the sound, and the commonality of it’.
You can hear Thomas Johnson's music at:

soundcloud.com/thomasfjohnson
More about Tom:
Odd things happen to Tom Johnson. Aged 11, he was hired as a minstrel with his violin to entertain at replica mediaeval feasts every weekend, including copious amounts of mead and token wenches to add to the atmosphere! Young Tom acquired the taste early for a ‘good night out’ !
Aged 15, he discovered Punk music...
Then, after getting a degree in English Literature at Oxford, he went to Sheffield with his then girlfriend. One week later, the relationship ended. Soon after, a friend suggested he looked for new opportunities in the classified ads in The Stage newspaper, Although completely unfamiliar to him, Tom responded to a vacancy at Dr Foster’s Theatre Company. The principal there has remained a lifelong friend and colleague ever since.
One Christmas where he now lives, a flash fire starting with a single candle quickly and completely destroyed his family living quarters - but, fortunately, it left his Egghouse Studio and musical instruments completely unscathed. Tom and his wife decided to stay on site and rebuild completely. This is very much in character as Tom has had in effect had only one job all his life, as a travelling musician, composer and choirmaster.
If he has a regret, it is that he did not back up his primary creative talent with a reliable secondary ‘trade’ like carpentry. Having said that, Tom admits he has shown little talent or even interest in any area not related to music!
He is happiest quietly composing in his Egghouse Studio or working with enthusiastic singers in a rehearsal room, ‘creating sounds that no one else thought was possible!’
A good guitar shop is his idea of window-shopping heaven and seeing a West Country sunset from a hillside pub, with a glass of good beer in his hand, is a spiritual experience.
At a more fanciful level, Tom would like to be remem

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

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Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
You can email me about the Show: [email protected]
Twitter thatchrisgrimes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :)

Thanks for listening!

Previous Episode

131 Welcome To The Clearing: Jenny Stephens - Outgoing Artistic Director of the BOVTS (& Glorious Margaret Rutherford Look-a-Likey!)

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Absolutely delighted to welcome the warm, witty and wonderful Jenny Stephens to The Good Listening To 'Clearing' as part of a happy experiment to help amplify the reputation of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where I too trained as an Actor, using the happy vehicle of the Podcast.
Any minute now, Jenny Stephens is about to complete 10 glorious years as Artistic Director of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Sounds quite highbrow? Jenny Stephens reveals herself here to be delightfully highbrow, middlebrow and lowbrow. One example illustrates this perfectly: she gives herself the Clearing choice of the Grand Canal in Venice or the Yorkshire Dales and Moors. On reflection, Jenny Stephens opts for the rural emptiness of Yorkshire.
Her family of origin is based in Bradford. She wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She never met anyone who’d been to Boarding School until she went to University in Birmingham. If Jenny’s rough and ready Yorkshire childhood was formative, her University education was transformative. It “filled her soul” and made her aware of the connectedness of everything.
Jenny draws enthusiastically on sources from everywhere with her own personal brand of magnetic optimism. Born in the ‘Year of the Pig’ in Chinese astrology, Jenny Stephens manifests the typical characteristics of frank positivity and kindhearted openness.
While she may feel she was born without a roadmap, she has navigated her life with shining sincerity and style. Her ‘long-suffering’ husband and now grownup children remain a primary source of joy. She can lose herself watching "Midsomer Murders" with them or playing "Tomb Raider"!
She can find inspiration in one 19th century American orator or in all kinds of contemporary colleagues and students.
Her hair may have gone from brown to grey but her heart still sings in the magic of the rehearsal room. She is looking forward to directing the Archers again in 2023, renewing old relationships and developing new ones in the BBC’s most famous radio series.
Jenny Stephens is a diamond. If she was born a little rough around the edges, she now has many facets, all dazzling!

Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
You can email me about the Show: [email protected]
Twitter thatchrisgrimes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
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Next Episode

133 Josette Bushell-Mingo (OBE), Award-Winning Actor & Director, and Principal of The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama

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Ladies n' Genminminmin' (er, min...) absolutely thrilled & delighted to be welcoming Josette Bushell Mingo, Principal of The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama to the 'Clearing'.
In the 1st of a series of shows whereby I'll be using the vehicle of the podcast to help amplify the reputation of The Central School, whilst also getting to meet and record some of its illustrious Alumni, with Josette agreeing to go first. I too trained there as a Drama Teacher circa 1982-86.
Here also to break new ground together, as our conversation is being simultaneously "signed" for the Film version of the programme, by the wonderful deaf-theatre signer Sherrie-Eugene Hart, praised by Director Sally Cookson as being "the best in the business".
Previously the Head of Acting at Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden, Josette Bushell-Mingo is an award-winning actor and director whose career has included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Rafiki in the West End production of The Lion King and she starred in the internationally acclaimed production Nina: A Story about Me and Nina Simone.

As a director, Josette Bushell-Mingo was Founder and Artistic Director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre.

For 13 years, she was also the Artistic Director for The National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre ensemble Tyst Teater, where her work focused on fostering the understanding, respect and potential of sign language arts and the artistic, linguistic and cultural rights of the deaf.

As a director and teacher, Josette travels internationally giving lectures and workshops in the creation of sign language theatre, cultural diversity challenges and inclusion.

More about Josette Bushell Mingo:
An articulate Aquarian of African descent, Josette Bushell-Mingo is a genuine East Ender. Born in February years ago and brought up in Plaistow, Josette first made her mark as an elite athlete, training for the 100 metre sprint, moving on to the relay and then going from track to field, for shot put and discus. Josette learned discipline early in life, together with the power of purpose and the talent for dealing with disappointment. Later Josette applied the same disciplines in landing an Olivier award for her role as the shaman Rafiki in the West End production of the now global hit musical, "The Lion King:.
In time, Josette left London for Stockholm where she was Director of the National Deaf Theatre of Sweden for over 10 years.
Sources of inspiration for Josette include Maya Angelou and Nina Simone and inclusion remains a central issue in Josette’s approach to her personal and professional life.