“He says they’re making my hands into bombs. I’m waiting for him to say ‘you don’t have to do this, it’s ok. You don’t have to do this.’  Instead he says, ‘Jump on the spot. You’re shaking. We can’t let them see that you’re shaking.’”

Stuntman is an explosive physical dance-theatre performance by two men exploring the relationships between violence and masculinity through stunts and satire. Taking inspiration from classic and contemporary action movies such as Die Hard and John Wick to create high-octane and sometimes ridiculous fight scenes, Stuntman examines the impact that having action-hero role models has on men and boys.A striking, film set-inspired design by Rachel O’Neill, along with sound by Richy Carey and lights from Michaella Fee immerse the audience in the excitement of the heightened, cartoonish fights and draw us into the performer’s personal stories of their relationship with violence and aggression.

Set in traverse, the audience are front and centre of the action, an intimate yet explosive performance from David Banks and Sadiq Ali 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. 

Stuntman is for anyone who has ever enjoyed a violent action movie (but felt a bit weird about it). It is an intensely physical, funny, and tender duet by two men who wrestle with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. Fusing the Pow! Biff! and Wallop! of over-the-top stunt fights with personal stories of real encounters with violence from the performers’ lives.