Symphonie of the Bicycle

SYMPHONIE OF THE BICYCLE by Hew Parham

‘Medals aren’t meant to be worn on the shirt; they are to be worn on the soul.’
Gino Bartali (1914-2000)

Symphonie has had two seasons to date:

Merrigong Theatre
21 - 24 September, 2022

Space Theatre
Adelaide Festival Centre
17 - 21 January, 2023

A funny, heartfelt one-man show about cycling and obsession, envy and ambition, winning and losing, and finding the inner grit to dominate the mountain stages of life.

Hew is a passionate wannabe cyclist. But Hew is in a malaise. Stuck in a cycle of dead-end jobs and missed opportunities he has long harboured a pathological envy of his more successful high school friend, now professional cyclist, Jake.

Told in parallel with our hero’s tale is the story of the great Gino Bartali (1914 – 2000), winner of the Tour de France in 1938 and 1948, who, in WWII, risked his life to save Jewish lives in Northern Italy by secretly transporting documents in his bicycle.

In Symphonie of the Bicycle these stories combine to create an absurdly hysterical yet ultimately moving portrait of the quest for glory and heroism.

Presented by Brink Productions in association with Adelaide Festival Centre.

Running time 80 mins

Thanks to commissioning partners Merrigong Theatre and Adelaide Festival Centre.

CAST
Performer Hew Parham

CREATIVES
Writer Hew Parham 
Director Chris Drummond
Composer & Sound Designer Will Spartalis 
Set, Costume & Lighting Design Wendy Todd 
Associate Lighting Designer & Technical Operator Aaron Herczeg 
Dramaturg Caleb Lewis
Production Manager Lachlan Turner
Stage Manager Marg Crompton

InDaily (Australia)
'Hew Parham has the audience in the palm of his hand and holds them there.'

'a shining example of the way polished stagecraft, inventive sound and lighting, and emotionally astute writing can combine to tell an intricate story in an utterly compelling way.'

'This show is captivating.'

'While Parham’s remarkable skills in comedy and physical theatre are on full display for the entire 90 minutes, there are deeper themes at work. His writing is equally impressive.'
 

The Advertiser - SA Weekend (Australia) 14 Jan 2023
'Symphonie de la Bicyclette is beautifully written, a deft mix of light and dark, with many amusing moments, yet not a little tragedy.'

'Parham is an outstanding talent'
 

Glam Adelaide (Australia)
★★★★.5
'extremely funny, poignant, emotionally raw and richly entertaining'

Arts Hub
'Parham’s ability to flit seamlessly between characters and timelines was remarkable'

SA LIFE - January edition
Ranked Symphonie de la Bicyclette #2 in the top 10 things to in Adelaide while at the Tour Down Under!

For further details on touring this show, please email John Glenn here.

Click HERE to download the Teachers' Notes for Symphonie of the Bicycle.