Review: CADEL: LUNGS ON LEGS at Riverside Studios

Based on true events in the life of Cadel Evans, the first Aussie to win the Tour de France, audiences can expect a perfect blend of childhood reminiscence, adrenaline-packed racing, and moments of self doubt and introspection. Evans’ eventful childhood of constant relocation is portrayed energetically; Delves transforms into an over-excited kid selecting his first bike with ease, effortlessly shifting as he turns to cover a traumatic childhood accident.

Performed almost entirely on a bicycle, the audience is face-to-face with the physicality of athletic competition: brutally agonising, endlessly draining, occasionally ecstatic. Far from being a gimmick, the play’s non-stop cycling set-up is uniquely immersive, and Delves’ cycling background imbues his performance with a level of authenticity that I’m sure fellow cyclists and fans appreciated.

Imagine Black’s production design stands out as particularly evocative, not simply making the most out of the space’s limitations but creating something which requires and thrives off the intimacy and simplicity of a smaller venue. The projection design is fantastic and contributes to the show’s fast-pace, transporting us seamlessly from ‘the bush’ to the Arc de Triomphe finish line. With graphics informing us of race timings, penalties, and other intricacies of road racing, the information overload feels hectic and thrilling in the best way. The recreation of live sports coverage is impressive in its ability to conjure that nail-biting, edge of your seat feeling.

Delves exhibits excellent comic abilities, interweaving laugh-out-loud moments of levity when you least expect it. Co-writers Delves and Steve McMahon have a terrific instinct for knowing which biographical details will draw audiences in. Providing insight into the turbulent dynamics of the Silence-Lotto racing team, athlete engagement with the press, doping scandals, and the mental aerobics behind a race’s final push, the play will undoubtedly inspire a Google deep dive on the way home.

CADEL: Lungs on Legs showcases a rare fusion of sport and theatre which appeals both to the hardcore fans and the uninformed in equal measure. Like most stories of sporting excellence, the subject matter goes far beyond its context to explore resilience, determination, and sacrifice in a heartfelt and pertinent way. It’s a clear passion project and the abounding success at Edinburgh Fringe is no happy accident.