Alex Lykos takes on 12 personas in his one-man play “Jawbone”

Thanks to COVID-19 the arts suffered more than most in 2020. It was a year of isolation and reflection and Sydney playwright, director/actor Alex Lykos used that time creatively and the result is his one-man play “Jawbone” that premiers later this month.

“With COVID-19, last year, I did not know what would happen and thought I could not create anything with a large ensemble. I wrote ‘Jawbone’ as TV series and it is currently being developed (in that form) by Lykos entertainment. I adapted as a one-man show for the stage so that I could rehearse at home and have it ready quickly once the theatres opened again,” said Mr Lykos whose other works include the feature film “Alex&Eve” and is stage version and sequels as well as “Me & My Left Brain”, and the critically acclaimed “Better Man”.

“As I developed and rehearsed ‘Jawbone’, it seemed to work well,” he said.

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He described the play as a controversial dark comedy that examines what it means for a man to be successful in modern society.

The successful modern man has a high-paying job, he is married with two children, owns investment properties and goes on regular holidays. The play also examines what it means when you have not reached those milestones.

“Tim (the play’s main character) hasn’t achieved any of these milestones. His family, friends and society see him as a failure – as does he. It’s at this rock-bottom state where he breaks from the shackles of his own comatose existence and begins living on the edges,” said Mr Lykos.

“One audience member said modern success is measured by how many square metres a person has and how many children he has,” said Mr Lykos who has recently staged a number of performances of “Jawbone” in Newcastle.

“It is the first one-man show that I have done but it fits with people’s headspace and it seems to be connecting. People are laughing, so the comedy is working and I feel the energy from the audience and that they are on the journey together with me.”

He said that while the lead character is Greek, the cultural elements are not accentuated in the play. It may be a one-man play but in “Jawbone” Mr Lykos plays a dozen characters.

The gala opening night for “Jawbone” at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville on 26 May will coincide with the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Marrickville Theatre Company which he helped to found.

“We are looking to bring the play to Melbourne in September in time for the Melbourne Fringe Festival,” said Mr Lykos.

♦ “Jawbone opens at the Factory Theatre, Marrickville on 26 May, 3 to 13 June (Thursday, Friday, Saturday Sunday. For more information visit the Factory Theatre website. ( www.factorytheatre.com.au)