"I have had the pleasure of seeing Julie Johnston’s plays on stage a number of times and having her as a notable participant in my playwriting workshop that I ran in Townsville in January 2014. I also was the adjudicator of the Festival of One Act Plays (FOOAP) in 2012 where Julie’s plays (A Formal Tradition and Hairdresser’s Code) swept the stage, winning many of the major awards.
Julie’s characters and situations have a freshness and vitality that springs to vivid life on stage. She also has a delightful ear for the nuances and details of Australian life so that her dialogue and humour ring true with the spark of real people. Audiences love Julie’s plays and they are still laughing and talking about lines and scenes hours afterward.
If you are looking for a play for your school or theatre company that actors will love performing and audiences will delight in watching, I have no hesitation in recommending Julie’s work."
Alex Broun.
Adjudicator, Festival of One Act Plays NQ 2012 / Playwright. www.alexbroun.com.
"As Festival Director for Short+Sweet Townsville 2014, I had the pleasure of programming Julie Johnston’s script SWINGERS. This production went down very well with our audiences and deservedly took the awards for both BEST COMEDY and BEST SCRIPT. Julie displays a unique voice for biting satire - SWINGERS teeters on the edge between all-too-familiar and way-too-outrageous. It masterfully exposes taboos that challenge our social norms (even today!), and the result is hilarious. I would highly recommend this play as an exemplary satire for our times. It’s ready for audiences to blush, giggle, and perhaps even consider…
I would also readily recommend Julie as a relevant comic playwright with an all too observant eye - I can’t wait to see what she does next!"
Nathan Sibthorpe.
Festival Director, Short+Sweet Festival Queensland
"It’s rare to find one acts and short plays that give the actors something meaty, detailed and fun to work with. Julie’s plays do a tremendous job of serving the performers and the audience."
Kris Stewart.
Adjudicator, Festival of One Act Plays NQ 2015 / Artistic Director, Brisbane Powerhouse.
"Julie Johnston is one of the most talented, local playwrights I have worked with in my more than 40 years involvement in theatre. As an actor, director and administrator in both community and professional theatre in North Queensland I have worked with a number of local authors and Julie is undoubtedly one of the best.
I have directed one of her plays, and seen and read a number of others in both the ten minute and one-act play categories. This has given me an insight into of her eye for detail, her concise and realistic dialogue and her recognisable characters.
As an author, she is a delight to work with as, while she is always ready to collaborate in making changes to improve the script, she never interferes in the director’s vision.
As an assessor for one-act play competitions and an adjudicator, I have a good idea of what audiences like, and they will certainly like Julie’s plays. Her work is eminently suitable for theatre companies, especially in the context of festivals and seasons of short plays."
Ray Dickson.
Director of Swingers, Short +Sweet Townsville 2014 and FOOAP 2015
"Hairdressers' Code was performed as an open air performance for the opening of the new Council library complex, and again at the Repertory Theatre for a members night in March. Both occasions were very successful. Your play was great fun and very much appreciated with lots of laughs."
Mike Taylor.
Toowoomba Repertory Theatre Society.
"I was very pleased to be assigned Julie’s play Sole Survivor and was delighted for her that it was awarded Best Play in Eltham Little Theatre’s Ten Minute Quickies competition. Many short plays try to fit too much story in, but Sole Survivor avoids this, and plays both slow and tight. There were many little script “rocks” to lift up and consider. Clayton is damaged, but not broken, and it was lovely to be able to explore that."
Brad Buckingham.
Director, Eltham Little Theatre.
"I was pleased to be able to direct A Formal Tradition. All the way through I kept marvelling at how well written it is. The characters and their interplay as well as the plot structure - a delight!"
David Sinnamon.
Director of Theatre, Rockhampton Little Theatre.
"The audience absolutely loved Hairdressers’ Code. The one-liners were very well received and the comedic timing was fantastic! The fast pace and unique yet simple story line kept the audience fascinated and hooked. Not only was the play thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, the cast also loved the jokes and the characters! Thank you so much Julie for being cooperative and giving the American School of Doha an opportunity to enjoy your show!"
Anishka Bhatia.
Teacher, American School of Doha, Qatar.
"Thank you so very much for the production of 28 Down, Eight Letters! You are a gifted playwright and we are delighted to bring it to the stage here in the US!"
Paula Hayes.
Director, Middlesborough Little Theatre, USA.