Oldham star maker David Johnson remembered as a 'force to be reckoned with'.

Date published: 09 May 2022


An Oldham man who kick started the careers of many Coronation Street, Emmerdale and musical stars, has been remembered as a 'force to be reckoned with'. 

David Johnson, who founded Oldham Theatre Workshop back in 1968 and later went on to establish himself independently, has been credited with 'putting on Oldham on the map', in terms of acting and theatre nationally. 

He passed away last week. But his work is acclaimed as having had "significant and ongoing impact", according to Oldham Threatre Workshop. 

Many households names started out under Mr Johsnon's guidance.  

Some of those he trained who starred in Coronation Street were Suranne Jones, who also went on to work on hit shows Doctor Foster and Gentleman Jack, Anthony Cotton, Sally Dynevor, Alison King, Michael Le Vell and the legendary Anne Kirkbride. 

Another big name that David trained is Kelvin Fletcher, who played Andy Sugden in Emmerdale for 20 years, before going onto other shows and becoming a household name in 2019, when he won Strictly Come Dancing. 

Anna Friel was also under David Johnson's guidance.  She shot to fame in Brookside and also went on to feature in film Limitless, alongside Robert De Niro. 

One of the stars of Les Miserables, Gemma Wardle, credited Mr Johnson with her success, after starting out in Oldham Theatre Workshop in 1985, when she was 10. Gemma has gone on to star in numerous West End productions and TV shows. 

Gemma's mum, who lives in Royton, in Oldham, told us she had known David for a 'long time', through an association with training her daughter. 

She told The Oldham Evening Chronicle, "It's incredibly sad, David has left a big hole in theatre land. 

"I spoke to him recently and knew he had been ill, but it's still a bit of a shock.

"He helped everybody he could and if he saw potential in someone, he was incredible at nurturing that talent. 

"But he was a force to be reckoned with, not a soft touch by any means.

"My daughter Gemma credits him with training her to deal with some of the more difficult and challenging sides she has to deal with in acting. 

"I don't think he'll ever be replaced."


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