Kevan Johnston began dancing lessons at his mother's, Peggy Elser's, dance studio in Perth at a very young age. He was just five years old when he made his first stage appearance at His Majesty's Theatre. Skilled at everything from Highland Dancing, ballet, jazz ballet and tap, he was a foundation member of the West Australian Ballet Company. Not long after this he auditioned for J.C. Williamson's where he performed feature dance roles in Call Me Madam, where he and his future wife Jill Perryman met in 1953, Paint Your Wagon, Can-Can, The Pajama Game, the title role of Conrad Birdie in Bye, Bye Birdie, Carnival, Pippin, No, No Nanette, Annie, Chicago and Evita.
Kevan was choreographer on the television variety show, Bandstand, as well as a number of made for television specials. He was a performer and choreographer for Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre and was Production Coordinator on the Australian tour of Disney on Parade.
Back in Perth he worked as a performer, and on the production side of shows such as Chicago, The Sentimental Bloke, Company, Irene. For the West Australian Opera Company, Kevan choreographed productions from Orpheus in the Underworld to Countess Maritza. He directed The Twenties and All That Jazz, choreographed the Perth production of Side By Side By Sondheim and performed in productions as varied as The Doll, Waiting for Godot and a two-hander with his wife, Jill Perryman, Wallflowering.
He trained dancers well into his retirement, was a tireless supporter of young and up-coming performers and was a regular tutor at WAAPA.
He was a recipient of an OAM in the 1992 Honours List for services to the performing arts as a choreographer, actor, dancer and teacher.
In 1995 Kevan joined his wife, Jill, in the Gordon/Frost production of Hello, Dolly!; Jill coming out of retirement to play Dolly Levi and Kevan playing Rudolph Reisenweber.
In 2013, both Kevan and Jill were recipients of the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kevan and Jill have two children, Trudy and Tod, both heavily involved in show business and loving grandchildren. A much loved and respected gentleman of the theatre, Kevan will be missed by everyone who knew him.
