John Knowles

About John Knowles

John Knowles is professional communications trainer, storyteller, writer, actor and comedian. He can be heard regularly on ABC702 Afternoons with James Valentine performing his storytelling show I Can Top That!. John hosts “BESPOKEN WORD”, a monthly storytelling night at Petersham Bowling Club and performs at professional storytelling events around Australia. He has taught storytelling for performance for 6 years and recently featured on a special double episode (2 hours) of ABC 702 Conversations with Richard Fidler. John represented Australia at the International Theatresports improvisation Championships in Atlanta USA and has taught courses on improving your ‘one-to-one’ conversational skills.

John studied acting at Canada’s Ryerson Acting School, and personal coaching at ‘Coach U’. He has tutored people professionally in ‘small talk’ techniques for a number of years and has developed his own methods and exercises to help people find their unique style and increase their self-confidence when chatting with strangers.

John has written and performed his own full-length solo shows including “Storytiller”, “FourFathers”, toured his shows “IMPROZAC” and “Cops On Heat” to major Comedy and Fringe festivals, and collected the Moosehead Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his one-man show John Knowles Is Saddle Sore, a bittersweet memoir about his life growing up the wimpy son of a tough rodeo cowboy.

"I was very scared about public speaking when I arrived, but John has given me some really good tools and now I feel much more confident. I also learned how to be a really good listener. Meeting the other students has been fascinating. It has been brilliant!"

• Fiona Chapman, Sydney Community College student of John’s course

"I enjoyed your course very much. You made it a safe space for us all and your insights into storytelling were invaluable. Most of all, I liked listening to everyone’s stories – especially yours! Second most off all, I enjoyed the opportunity to be silly "

• Penny Robertshawe, Sydney Community College student of John’s course

"John puts the simplicity back into storytelling and the heart back into humour"

“John has been instrumental in helping me find my voice as a communicator. His patience, knowledge and amazing ability as a teacher have brought me from being a shy person in the corner to someone who can confidently begin a chat or share a story with strangers. I have taken three different courses with John and they have all been fantastic.”

• Lulu Joy, Sydney Community College student of John’s course