Man With the Iron Neck

Man With the Iron Neck description

A small town. A tight-knit, AFL-mad community. Three friends on the verge of adult life with big dreams for the future. But what comes next when one is lost to suicide? Less a story about loss than it is a story about embracing life, Man With The Iron Neck is an acclaimed story of survival by Australia’s premier physical theatre company, Legs On The Wall.

When Ash loses his best friend Bear, he becomes obsessed with early- 20th-century stunt man The Great Peters – aka ‘The Man With The Iron Neck’ – whose most famous stunt saw him jump off bridges with a rope tied around his neck, and survive. The Great Peters embodied both life and death, but in the end what he promises is impossible: you can’t leap to your death without dying.

Told with poignancy, love and humour, Legs On The Wall’s unique aerial performance skills are interwoven with text and ambitious video and set design to tell this affecting new Australian story, based on an original work by Josh Bond, and co-commissioned by the 2019 Adelaide Festival. Playwright Ursula Yovich and Co-Directors Josh Bond and Gavin Robins, three of Australia’s most treasured theatre-makers, are joined by a stellar creative and performance team for a work described by The Australian in its 2018 premiere as ‘visually stunning as it is deeply moving’.

Man With The Iron Neck is an unmissable story of family and a thrilling new era for Australian physical theatre.

One of the most significant new works of theatre in this past decade.

Broadway World

Gripping, confronting and moving physical theatre at its best.

The Conversation

For the audio version of this event page, click here.

_________________________________________

FREE HEALING WORKSHOP

Legs On The Wall extends an open invite to Man With The Iron Neck audience members and others to take part in a unique healing workshop with David Cole, Darwin based elder and founder of Balunu Foundation. Everyone is welcome, people may attend who haven't seen the show. 

David Cole's Water Bowls: Challenge of the Warrior workshop 
Dunstan Playhouse, 5pm - 6pm, Sunday 10th March 2019

It is FREE but please register here.

_________________________________________

POST-SHOW Q&A

Dunstan Playhouse, 3:30pm - 3.50pm, Monday 11 March

Event additional information

Participants

Expand or collapse Participants

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., Commissioned by Brisbane Festival, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Darwin Festival. Creative development supported by The Balnaves Foundation. Generously supported by Maureen Ritchie.

Featuring Ursula Yovich, Kyle Shilling, Tibian Wyles, Caleena Sansbury

Co-Director and Original Concept Josh Bond
Co-Director Gavin Robins 
Writer Ursula Yovich

Co-Composer Iain Grandage
Co-Composer Steve Francis
Sound Design Michael Toisuta & Jed Silver
Set Designer Joey Ruigrok 
Lighting Designer Matt Marshall
Costume Designer Emma Vine
Video Designer Sam James
Dramaturg Steve Rodgers
Cultural Consultant & Dramaturgical input Jane Harrison
Cultural Consultant & Community engagement David Cole

Senior Creative Producer Cecily Hardy
Associate Producer Sophia Marinos
Legs Artistic Director Joshua Thomson

Production Manager Mark Haslam
Head Rigger Andrew Bright
Stage Manager/ Rigger support Anna Pidgeon & Stephanie Cox

Assistant Rigger/ Swing Rigger Chad Albinger

Special Thanks Kath Melbourne, Patrick Nolan, Lily Shearer

Resources

Expand or collapse Resources

Read and download the daybill here (PDF 1MB)

Teachers resources for the show can be found here (PDF 6.2MB)

Additional resources:

Review Writing Tips (PDF 290KB)

Theatre Etiquette (PDF 115KB)

Links to Curriculums for Education Resources (PDF 215KB)

Partners

Expand or collapse Partners