CADEL: LUNGS ON LEGS Will Make London Premiere Season at Riverside Studios
Connor Delves stars as cycling legend Cadel Evans, directed by Mark Barford
From down under to the top of the podium! CADEL: Lungs On Legs is the riveting true story of cycling legend Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France. Performances will run Thursday 6 - Sunday 30 August.
Connor Delves delivers a powerhouse performance, pedalling live on the actual bike Evans rode to victory in France. Grit, storytelling and heart-pounding energy combine in a breathtaking theatrical ride. It's a multi-award-winning, high-octane homage to endurance, ambition and sportsmanship.
Placing audiences directly in the saddle, the show delivers a visceral account of the sacrifices, setbacks, and sheer determination required to conquer cycling's most prestigious race.
Co-writer and performer Connor Delves was raised in a cycling family, and he grew up immersed in the world of elite competition. His parents owned a bike shop, his mother Vicki Delves is a recipient of the WA Sport Award (May Campbell Medal), and his father competed internationally alongside Cadel Evans in the 1990s.
In this gruelling solo performance, Delves remains on stage for the entire show, pedalling live on an actual 2011 yellow BMC “Cadel Evans” SLR01 - the same model Evans rode to victory in the 2011 Tour de France. Combined with vivid storytelling, immersive design, and live race commentary from the legendary Phil Liggett, the production brings the epic scale and suspense of professional cycling vividly to life.
In August, CADEL: Lungs On Legs will return to the Edinburgh Fringe following a sold-out critically acclaimed UK premiere there in 2025, and fresh from a sold out Australian premiere tour.
At the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, CADEL: Lungs On Legs was named “Best Show Of The Fringe” Award Winner - Theatre Weekly, Underbelly Fringe Fix Wild Card Winner - London West End Showcase Selection, and received an EFFTA Award from the Fringe Theatre Awards. More recently the show won the Best of Theatre Weekly Award at Adelaide Fringe and received an OFFIE nomination.
The real Cadel Evans said, “When I was on the verge of first breaking into the international cycling arena, an experienced and well-known ex-pro said to me: ‘As a cyclist, you are two things - a rider and an actor. In a race, sometimes you have to act like you are feeling good when you are not, and other times you have to act like you are not feeling good when you are.' Twenty-seven years later, I still clearly remember hearing those words. And now, thanks to Connor Delves, professional cycling is about to take the stage.
“I have always been well aware of the drama, thrill, and often suspense of cycling - but now, I get to see my sport as an art form. It has been a privilege and an honour to entertain spectators and followers of cycling as an athlete in competition, and I'm excited for them - and for those new to the sport - to experience the drama, effort, unpredictability, and suspense of major races in a completely new way.
“Connor's vision for this show is bold and exciting, and I'm thrilled to be involved from the start. His dedication to every detail - the training, and the physical demands of the production - reflects the same passion and commitment I've always brought to the bike. He'll be riding a BMC, just like I did (and do!), wearing the same yellow jersey I wore, and actually riding on stage every night… how cool is that?
“I love cycling, and I'm deeply honoured that an Australian artist has been inspired to bring my story to life for audiences worldwide.”
|
GETTING REKT (The Evening Star) The Union Theatre (9/21-9/24) |
|
Caroline: a new musical On Demand New Wolsey Theatre (7/13-9/19) |
|
Jack the Ripper: Theatre show Kingskerswell Kingskerswell Village hall (11/14-11/14) |
|
Jack and the Beanstalk Greenwich Theatre (11/27-1/10) |
|
Trainspotting The Musical Theatre Royal Glasgow (3/15-3/20) |
|
Bring Your Own Baby Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall (9/30-9/30) |
|
LOLA: Live! Upstairs at the Gatehouse (9/19-9/19) |
|
BAT! The Bat Out Of Hell 50th Anniversary Concert Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall (10/06-10/06) |
|
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert (12A) The Royal Albert Hall (12/29-12/29) |
|
Mammy's House Upstairs at the Gatehouse (9/01-9/13) |
