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.