Inside the Mind of 'Goodo': A 15-Year Journey.

TheatreiNQ is celebrating a fabulous 15 years, and as part of our Sessions training, one of our 'Expand your World’ tasks is to interview an ensemble member who has been here since the very beginning. John Goodson known by many as “Goodo” lights up every room he walks into and loves the company dearly. In an interview John said “I don’t think there is anything like this company in Australia, it would be interesting to see if there is anything like this in the world”.

Goodo as Feste in TWELFTH NIGHT (2015)

Goodo began his journey as a Bachelor of Theatre student at JCU where he studied under Jean-Pierre Voos and first met our founders, Terri Brabon and Brendan O'Connor. Following University, Goodo joined Tropic Line Theatre for his first Shakespeare Under the Stars - MACBETH in the West End Quarry in 1996. After a few years down south working in puppet theatre, clowning and music, Goodo came home to Townsville to perform for Tropic Line in A STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION directed by Jean-Pierre. From there he joined the company for a variety of performances in cafes, car parks as well as play readings and of course, his beloved Shakespeare Under the Stars.

Eventually, Goodo started a family and his focus shifted. He found that he wasn't as involved in the Arts scene and then sadly, Jean-Pierre passed away. “Terri and Brendan saved live Shakespearean theatre by starting TheatreiNQ, where I joined the company and performed in their first production." Goodo had the joy of playing Buckingham in RICHARD III, and it is clear how much he enjoyed the experience. He described the production as having a “frantic, circus-like energy, which perfectly matched Richard’s gleeful madness and made his violent actions even more unsettling”. However, this wasn’t Goodo’s first time working with Terri Brabon as a director; it was actually the fifth Shakespeare production he had been in under her direction, and his third time working with Brendan. By that point, he was comfortable with Terri’s approach, which he describes as "trusting and collaborative". Last year's AS YOU LIKE IT, marked Goodo's 20th performance for the Shakespeare Under the Stars event which is an incredible milestone for any actor and a testement to Goodo's dedication to the event and to our community.

Goodo with the Forest Band in AS YOU LIKE IT (2024)

When the conversation turned to TheatreiNQ itself, Goodo was quick to acknowledge that while the company has an incredible ensemble, it’s ultimately Terri and Brendan who are the driving force behind its success. Though he joked that Terri and Brendan would probably deny it, he made it clear that without the two of them, the high-quality, professional theatre we all love wouldn’t exist in our community. He praised how dedicated to making great theatre both Terri and Brendan are, and he clearly respects their ability to bring something special to every production. Goodo also expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to work with such talented people within the ensemble, adding "it’s always a pleasure to be constantly pushed and challenged as an artist." He also pointed out how the company’s work has continued to improve year after year, growing from “excellent” to what he humorously described as “excellent-er”.

Goodo with Terri Brabon - behind the scenes on THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (2022)

When I spoke to Terri about working with Goodo, she said, "he is such a multi-talented and joyous person to work with." After years of friendship and collaboration, I asked her to share a fond memory of working with Goodo. She shared a more recent memory of working together on THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI in 2022. While Goodo is known locally for his musical talents, this was the first time Terri and Goodo had collaborated musically in a production, writing all original music and lyrics for the show. She mentioned how much fun they had, and how easy it was to work together. She credits him for teaching her a lot about sound and music, even giving her some piano lessons. The experience, she said, “was not just musically enriching but emotionally fulfilling as well”. Their on-stage dynamic in ROMEO AND JULIET in 2014, playing the comic duo of The Nurse and Peter, also stood out as a highlight. Beyond acting, Terri was quick to emphasize his immense value to the ensemble. "He is a wonderful role model for The Bridge Project, and can always be found sharing his knowledge and skills. He is a big papa bear to all of them." Ultimately, Terri praised Goodo’s commitment to the company as the ultimate "company man," always giving his best in every role on stage and every challenge off stage.

Goodo was one of the first ever recipients of the Jean-Pierre Award in 2011 for his dedication to the Shakespeare Under the Stars event and this year marks his 21st performance in the event. That is such an incredible achievement! His talent, passion and versatility have made him a cornerstone of the ensemble for many years and his loyalty, dedication and deep affection for the company will no doubt see him remain as part of the ensemble for many years to come.

Goodo as Dogberry in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2020)