Only Bones – Daniel Nodder
Solo Physical Theatre
An original contemporary physical theatre performance where a solo performer wordlessly explores a microscopic universe; stepping from world to world; from creation to destruction to recreation.
Accompanied by a mesmerising original score by Wellington-based composer and musician Ben Kelly, the audience is taken on a journey across the cosmos. The performance is minimalist, physical, silly, mesmerising, visually stunning, aurally captivating, and a joyous experience for audiences.
For 50 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 Parameters
One performer. One light. No text. No set. No props. No narrative. All within 1m².
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 in 2015. The project champions physicality and virtuoso performance and has since become a genre in itself with 11 high-calibre artists from a variety of performance backgrounds contributing their own versions (including Trygve Wakenshaw, Sampo Kurppa, Jenni Kallo and Marina Cherry). Each artist is invited to create their own show under a uniform set of parameters.
"Distilled. Wild. Cutting edge. I would see this twice."
– Theatreview, Dunedin 2025
"This is the type of show that you go to a fringe festival for." ★★★★½
– Arts Hub, Melbourne 2023
"It's adept and intensely funny, bold, clever and original."
– Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne 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, Wellington 2023
"Believe me, you haven't seen anything like this before"
– Regional News, Wellington 2023
"We often forget we are watching a man with four limbs and not an amorphous jellied creature from the deep."
– Bad Apple, Auckland 2024
Accolades
Team
- Performer & Creator – Daniel Nodder
- Technical Manager & Light Designer – Rebekah de Roo
- Composer & Sound Designer – Ben Kelly
- Executive Producer & Concept – Thom Monckton
- Executive Producer – Fay Van Der Meulen
Upcoming Seasons
Previous Seasons
NZ Fringe Festival, Wellington – March 2023 (Premiere)
Melbourne Fringe Festival – October 2023
BATS Theatre, Wellington – November 2023
NZ Fringe Festival, Wellington – March 2024
San Diego International Fringe Festival – May 2024
Basement Theatre, Auckland – July 2024
Upsurge Festival, Kerikeri & Whangārei – September 2024
Nelson Fringe Festival – March 2025
Dunedin Fringe Festival – March 2025
Wairarapa Events Centre, Carterton – October 2025
For bookings & inquiries
onlybonesdanielnodder@gmail.com