Daniel is an award-winning physical performer and clown based in Pōneke. They attended Te Herenga Waka / Victoria University of Wellington and in 2019 obtained a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre and Film. Since then, they have been consistently active in the local theatre industry, with a specific focus in clowning, physical comedy, and slapstick or absurdist plays. With an extensive background in the freestyle street dance community, they bring movement experience to all of their work, specializing in subtle body isolation and contortion.
They have been twice nominated for Most Promising Emerging Artist in the NZ Fringe awards, for their solo shows Stepping Up (NZ Fringe, 2020) and Smilestuff (NZ Fringe, 2022). Their most recent physical theatre solo Only Bones - Daniel Nodder found significant success at the 2023 NZ Fringe, winning multiple awards (Outstanding Solo Performance, Tour Ready Melbourne, Tour Ready San Diego, nomination for Best in Fringe) as well as much critical acclaim. Later that year, Daniel was nominated for Performer of the Year in the Wellington Theatre Awards, once again for Only Bones -- Daniel Nodder. This work is to tour nationally and internationally from 2024 onwards.
Other credits include: The Undertow Quartet (Soundings Theatre, 2017), Big Foot (NZ Fringe 2020), Paper Jam (BATS Theatre, 2022), Survivor: Street Dance Edition (Te Auaha, 2022), Princess and the Knight (BATS Theatre, 2022), ratKing (NZ Fringe 2023), HAUSDOWN (BATS Theatre, 2022), The Lobster (BATS Theatre, 2024).
Organisation/Company
Name: Independent
My Role: Artist / Dancer
Only Bones – Daniel Nodder
Artform: Theatre, Physical Theatre
Development Status: Tour Ready
Pitch Video
Media Uploads
Trailer
Full Length
Synopsis
Only Bones - Daniel Nodder is an original contemporary physical theatre performance in which a solo performer wordlessly explores a microscopic universe; stepping from world to world; from creation to destruction to recreation. This galaxy-spanning solo performance was created by following a simple set of devising rules: no text, no set, no props, no narrative, only one light and within one metre squared - the ultimate challenge for a skilled physical performer. Accompanied by a mesmerising original score by Wellington-based composer and musician Ben Kelly, the audience is taken on a journey across the cosmos.
For 45 action-packed minutes, Daniel plucks different creatures, characters and moments in evolutionary history from the space-time continuum. From the Big Bang to the death of the dinosaurs; from the invention of fire to the face-melting effect of gravity; there's even an appearance from David Attenborough. You’ll witness the ordinary become extraordinary, the strange become familiar, you’ll see limbs bend in ways you never thought possible, and you’ll absolutely never be able to look at your knees the same way again. The performance is minimalist, physical, silly, mesmerising, visually stunning, aurally captivating, and a joyous experience for audiences.
Only Bones – Daniel Nodder is the eleventh iteration of a series of solo shows grouped together under The Only Bones Project, created by world-renowned circus and physical performer, Thom Monckton. The show premiered at the NZ Fringe Festival in 2023 where it won Outstanding Solo Performance, Tour-Ready Melbourne Fringe, Tour-Ready San Diego and was nominated for Best in Fringe.
Creative Team and Crew
Daniel Nodder (he/they): Performer
A dancer, actor and clown from Wellington, Daniel has been active in the dance community for 15 years and is an award-winning solo artist. He has an interest in the intersection between dance and theatre.
Fay Van Der Meulen (she/her): Producer/Publicist
Fay has three years of experience working as a freelance producer/publicist in the Wellington theatre scene. Fay was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at the Wellington Theatre Awards in 2023.
Rebekah de Roo (she/her): Production Manager/Light Designer
Rebekah is a theatre designer and technician who has worked across set, lighting, projection and other production roles. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre with distinction from Victoria University of Wellington where she also received the Anna Pastor-Bouwmeester Production Excellence Award.
Non-touring party
Thom Monckton (he/him): Executive Producer
A circus artist from New Zealand, Thom has produced a large amount of award-winning solo work including The Pianist and The Artist.
Ben Kelly (he/him): Composer/Sound Designer
Ben is a Wellington-based composer, sound designer and jazz pianist. He has worked in the Wellington theatre scene as a musical director and sound designer for three years and is highly sought after.
Number of People in the Touring Party
2 (3 optional)
Previous Seasons
New Zealand Fringe Festival | 7 - 11 March 2023 | Te Auaha, 65 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand
Melbourne Fringe Festival | 11 - 22 October 2023 | Festival Hub, Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton, VIC, Australia
BATS Theatre, Wellington | 14 - 18 November 2023 | BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand
Reviews and Quotes
“Some moments feel epic – I feel sure we witness Armageddon at one point – while others are microscopic. Sometimes we’re responding privately, at others we’re sharing a collective response. Mostly Only Bones V1.10 will be a personal experience for each individual who engages with it.” - Theatreview, 2023.
“Some of the funniest physical gags I’ve seen in a long time [...] I left this performance with a big goofy smile on my face.” - Art Murmurs, 2023.
“The on-stage chemistry between Daniel and that light bulb is off the charts.” - Audience Member, 2023.
Technical Rider & International Touring Info (if applicable)
- View/download document #1 here
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