Perth-raised actor Connor Delves is bringing one of Australia's greatest sporting triumphs to the stage in a groundbreaking one-man show that chronicles Cadel Evans' historic 2011 Tour de France victory. 'Cadel: Lungs On Legs' makes its Australian premiere in Perth this February, marking a homecoming for both the production and its creator.
From Manhattan to Wembley Downs
The 29-year-old performer, now based in New York, has already captivated international audiences with sold-out seasons in London and at the prestigious 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Delves describes the project as life-changing, both personally and professionally. "It's a massive challenge, this show, to pull it off and to do what I'm doing on stage every night is really difficult," Delves admits from his Manhattan home. "But it just feels like the project that's going to change my life and hopefully inspire a few others along the way."
Authenticity at Its Core
What sets this production apart is its remarkable commitment to authenticity. Delves performs on Evans' actual 2011 Tour de France-winning bicycle, one of only 141 ever made. "This is the actual one that he rode across the finish line in Paris, so it's really special," Delves explains. The authenticity extends to his clothing - he wears the same jersey Evans wore when he won stage four of that historic tour.
The physical demands are extraordinary. Delves cycles an average of 27 kilometres during each performance, matching Evans' own physique after months of preparation. "I happened to be exactly the same height as Cadel and I'm now the same weight as him, after doing the show for long enough," he notes.
A Personal Connection to Cycling
Delves' connection to cycling runs deep, growing up in Inglewood with parents deeply involved in the sport. His mother Vicki competed in triathlons while his father Gary owned Bike Force South Perth and even raced against a teenage Evans in Cairns the year Connor was born. The Delves family stayed up late to watch Evans' historic 2011 victory, never imagining that years later, Connor would be bringing that moment to life on stage.
It was these family connections that helped Delves secure a pivotal Zoom meeting with Evans in November 2024, where he pitched the concept for 'Cadel: Lungs On Legs'. Evans not only gave his blessing but contributed previously unrevealed insights into his mental process during the race. "He's given me things that aren't in his book, with some real insight into how he speaks to himself on the bike," Delves reveals. "It's the first time revealing some of the things that he would say to himself when he was riding flat-out to try and claw back the lead."
Bringing Australian Stories to the World
The production represents Delves' broader mission to share Australian stories internationally. He co-founded the Australian Theatre Festival NYC with fellow West Australian expat Mark Barford from Mandurah. Despite launching during the challenging period of May 2020, the festival now employs approximately 100 Australians both in New York and those who travel over for the annual event.
Barford serves as director for 'Cadel: Lungs On Legs', which will open the newly established Cygnet Theatre at Hale School - Delves' alma mater. The venue represents a new model for Perth's arts scene, operating as a professional theatre that coexists with the school and Redfoot Youth Theatre while presenting international-calibre work.
Evans himself plans to attend the Perth season, recently extended due to popular demand, marking his first time experiencing the show live. Delves describes the production as "a high-octane theatrical experience" that merges physical theatre, endurance sport, and traditional storytelling. "The audience have all been on the edge of their seats and engaging, as they were at the tour, screaming and clapping when he wins."
'Cadel: Lungs On Legs' runs at Cygnet Theatre, Hale School in Wembley Downs from February 4 to 11, 2025, with tickets available through events.humanitix.com/cadel-lungs-on-legs.
