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A man and a woman stare intently at small puppets of people.

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Inspired by the story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Term 3

Primary - High School: Stage 3 – 6, Years 5 – 12
Learning areas: Creative Arts, English and Drama

A magic-realist gem of theatre and storytelling from Ireland, using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection.

Fifty minutes of near theatrical perfection.

The Arts Review

Useful information:

A rich exploration of human nature

For students who love exquisite, beautifully crafted theatre, a magical realist gem inspired by legendary novelist Gabriel García Márquez’s darkly comic fairy tale, Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes. 

In a kitchen, in a theatre, two storytellers and their audience discover something remarkable – a very old man with enormous wings – and invite us to speculate who he is. A neighbour believes he’s an angel, a priest claims he’s an imposter.  Pilgrims flock to see him, hoping to be healed by him. They leave with something different than what they expected. 

Winner of Best Design at the Dublin Fringe (2019), talented theatre maker Dan Colley has created a perfect show for students gorgeously formed around music, puppetry and live video, but also thoughtful and emotionally rich in its exploration of human nature. 

Sydney Opera House presents a Dan Colley and Riverbank Arts Centre production of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

Watch the trailer

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