Cadel - Lungs on Legs
★★★★★
One man, one bicycle and an extraordinary story of determination. It sounds deceptively simple, yet CADEL: Lungs on Legs is one of the most exhilarating and inventive pieces of theatre I've seen in a long time. A remarkable combination of physical endurance, compelling storytelling and imaginative staging, this is fringe theatre at its absolute best.
Written by Connor Delves and Steve McMahon, the play tells the extraordinary true story of Cadel Evans, the Australian cyclist who, after years of setbacks and near misses, finally won the Tour de France in 2011. But this is much more than a sporting biography. It's a story about ambition, sacrifice, disappointment and the almost obsessive determination required to achieve something seemingly impossible.
Connor Delves delivers a quite exceptional performance. Spending virtually the entire production pedalling a bicycle, often at astonishing speed, he somehow manages to combine extraordinary physical exertion with beautifully controlled acting and impeccable comic timing. The sheer stamina required is remarkable enough, but what really impresses is his ability to make the audience feel every frustration, disappointment and moment of triumph. As the sweat pours and the effort becomes increasingly visible, the distinction between actor and athlete almost disappears.
Under Mark Barford's assured direction, the production moves effortlessly between Evans's childhood, his professional career and the gruelling demands of competitive cycling. The staging is brilliantly conceived, with Lauren Cochrane's video projections, Mitchell Fenton's lighting and Nate Edmondson's sound design combining to create a genuinely immersive experience. The race sequences are particularly thrilling, generating an extraordinary sense of speed, tension and anticipation.
What makes the production so successful, however, is that it never relies solely on its impressive physical spectacle. The writing is sharp, frequently funny and surprisingly moving, allowing us to understand not just what Evans achieved, but the emotional and psychological price of getting there. Even knowing the outcome, the final stages are utterly gripping.
You certainly don't need to be a cycling enthusiast to appreciate this production. Its themes are universal, its storytelling superb and its central performance nothing short of phenomenal.
CADEL: Lungs on Legs is an exceptional achievement, both theatrically and physically. Inventive, inspiring and thoroughly entertaining, it deserves every one of its five stars. An absolute must-see.
CADEL: Lungs On Legs
Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, London W6 9BN
Tuesday 13 October – Sunday 15 November 2026
Tuesday – Sunday at 7.15pm; Saturday and Sunday at 3pm
Running time: 70 minutes
Book tickets at Riverside Studios
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