After two successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, Cadel: Lungs on Legs comes to London for an extended run at Riverside Studios.
“From down under to the top of the podium! The riveting true story of Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France.
Connor Delves delivers a powerhouse performance, pedalling live on the actual bike Evans rode to victory.
Grit, storytelling and heart-pounding energy combine in a breathtaking theatrical ride. A high-octane homage to endurance, ambition and sportmanship.”
Where: Riverside Studios
When: to 15 Nov
Ticket link: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/whats-on/ld-cadel-lungs-on-legs/
Connor, you’ve had great success with Cadel at Edinburgh Fringe and beyond. What attracted you to the story of Cadel Evans specifically, and were you able to catch up with him directly to help with shaping the show?
I grew up in my parents bike shop and I’ve always been an athlete …that happens to also act.
I think we’re in a moment in the world where people are really interested in stories that relate closely to the person they’re viewing on stage.
The way Cadel won the Tour de France, in the circumstances he was in, and being the first Australian to do so – all was an incredibly inspiring moment for our country, our sport and certainly myself as a young athlete that also happened to be an entertainer.
So many things went wrong, so much hard work went into winning and getting there in the end and that type of racing is just the most entertaining thing to watch.
It’s distinctly Australian it’s distinctly me and something that I knew that I could bring authentically to the stage.
Cadel himself has been a part of the show since the beginning. He’s given me incredible insight into the inner workings of his mind and how he speaks to himself.
That’s something that audiences are often surprised by. The self talk. He’s been an incredible supporter of the show and me both on and off the bike.
We have seen plays performed on bicycles before with Beryl (about Beryl Burton), The HandleBards’ work, and A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction. So what does Cadel bring to that space that’s different?
A full physical and psychological effort. I ride hard on stage for the majority of the show and produce a true simulation of what it’s like to be a pro rider.
I’m dialed in and pushing up those mountains on the actual bikes, at the actual gradient and hitting the actual speeds.
There’s no dramatization here- just true effort. It’s something I knew was integral to making this a success.
It also intertwines the actual commentary and footage with real vision of me in a way that makes the audience feel like they are Tour de France. Warning, the front rows are definitely a splash zone!
How did you made sure you were in good physical shape for Edinburgh in the summer and this current run in London?
I’m an athlete but I do train specifically for the show. I work with my trainer and nutritionist Prime Train to be ready for show seasons and make sure I’m muscular enough to avoid injury and stay on the bike.
I also work with Wahoo on a tough indoor training schedule (with no fan) to simulate the on stage effort and heat.
It’s a tough program and I had to be able to push out the exact cadence and watts they do in the Tour de France – every show is recorded and I have to hit those metrics, so it is a bit of a science. And a lot of hard work.
The Tour de France, with 21 stages, is notorious for fatigue. How have you been able to bring that feeling into the show?
I’m feeling it! Opening in London is show 100. It’s a big effort to ride 28km on stage every night whilst talking, and reaching those speeds at that gradient.
So the on stage fatigue is real and I have to reach a certain level every night. So backing up every single day is not dissimilar to the tour in that way.
What has been your favourite audience comment about the show?
The first time I met Phil Liggett (legendary Tour de France commentator) was immediately after our first ever preview.
He said “That was Cadel Evans. You are Cadel Evans. That is the sport.”
There’s no greater compliment.