Lantern Rouge
Cycling in France is worshipped, respected, it is a national sport, in the UK it is the stuff of ridicule, abuse and Clarkson bullying. But for many writers and artists it is more than mere transportation, it is transcendental and transforming.
Exploring a lifetime of cycling via Becket, Byrnes and O'Brien Lantern Rouge will aim to change attitudes to cycling and to destroy urban myths about the importance of the win. I hope the project will change attitudes to cycling and open up a discussion around urban spaces and the relationship between pedestrians, cyclists, car uses and city planners. This is a play for the underdog the also-ran for those who never entered the race with the intention of winning, but nonetheless came out on top.
At its heart is a play which explores heroes like Nils Gustaf Håkansson who at 64 years old tried to enter Sweden's epic endurance cycle race the Sverigeloppe. He was turned down (the cut off age was 40) but nevertheless turned up at the start line wearing ZERO and became a national hero, greeted by the King of Sweden at the finish line, the face of a popular soft drink and celebrated in a Swedish folk song.
Lantern Rouge is about redefining what it means to be a winner in an age of betrayal and the celebration of the traitor. This is for us, the also rans.