Pride of Guernsey: 'Passionate about the arts'
'THOUGHT it was a joke at first, I thought my husband had put someone up to it,' said Lisa Johnston about her nomination for the Moonpig-sponsored Arts Contribution of the Year Award due to her role with Gadoc on Les Miserables.
'I've been poorly recently and missed all the stories and reviews in the Guernsey Press about Les Mis.'
A member of Gadoc for 34 years, Lisa is now the chairwoman. 'I joined when I was 18, when I first came to Guernsey. I am absolutely passionate about the arts and passionate about Gadoc. Being nominated is a an honour for me, but Gadoc enables me to follow my passion.'
Lisa has acted in many shows over the years but took up directing in 2009, with the musical version of Little Women.
In the past couple of years she has directed Shrek and Sister Act, but it was this year's production that inspired her nominator to proclaim it as 'the greatest show ever seen on the Beau Sejour stage – Les Miserables... the music, the acting, the staging, the costumes, but notably the singing. Although there were many assisting the production, it was Lisa who had brought them all together and masterminded this phenomenal show.'
Lisa said: 'Gadoc provides a platform to showcase local performers and each show keeps theatre alive. We welcome new people who may be quite shy at first, but their confidence grows and remains with them. I love working with the company – both on and backstage – from the idea on the paper to the full-blown production.'
Gadoc's next Easter production will be Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
