Stuntman is an intensely physical, funny, and tender duet which sees two men wrestle with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. It examines the impact of action-hero role models on men and boys by taking inspiration from movies such as Die Hard and John Wick to create high-octane and sometimes ridiculous fight scenes.
This satirical physical production explores the relationship between violence and masculinity. Placing the audience front and centre to the action of the Pow! Biff! Wallop! over-the-top stunt fights, Stuntman also confronts them with the performers’ personal stories of real encounters with violence and their relationship with aggression.
The striking design by Rachel O’Neill, sound by Richy Carey and lights from Michaella Fee immerse the audience in the intimate yet explosive performance from David Banks and Sadiq Ali. Stuntman juxtaposes the anger, rage and hype that men can feel on the brink of a fight with the calm softness and tenderness of not wishing to be violent.
Director and lead artist, Pete Lannon comments, I’m overjoyed that Stuntman is coming to the Fringe as part of the Made in Scotland showcase. The response we had from audiences on tour was incredible, and the conversations it sparked reminded me why it’s important to keep asking the questions I think the show is asking. The themes at the heart of it, of the complicated and painful relationships men have with violence, feel like they’ve (sadly) only become more relevant in the last couple of years. I hope that we can invite people to think about it from a slightly different perspective, and also have some fun – there’s a lot of joyful silliness in the show too.
