The 25-year-old from Wallabi Point features as Bear in Legs On The Wall’s The Man with the Iron Neck, which explores the issue of suicide among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as hope and embracing life.

Part of the Sydney Festival, there will be five performances between January 23 and 26.

Kyle had been asked to audition for the role of the upcoming AFL player in the cast of four.

“They were looking for a male actor who was physically built like a football player but had a background in movement and dance. I went to the audition and got the part.”

It’s Kyle’s first time performing with Legs on the Wall, Australia’s leading physical theatre company.

“Physical theatre is acting morphed with dance and trapeze and circus type gymnastics. It’s an element that allows you to use more objects and the environment around you.”

Aerial work plays a big part in the telling of this story.

Rehearsals included “two months of physically draining and mentally draining creativity,” before the first performances in Brisbane in September 2018.

Kyle said The Man with the Iron Neck is a story over a story.

“It’s the story of ‘the man with the iron neck’, Aloys Peters who used to perform in front of crowds and who would step off with a noose around his neck. He had it scientifically solved that with the angle he fell and when he grabbed the rope he wouldn’t hang himself. He used to do it in front of a crowd and scare the crap out of everyone.

“He’s seen as a thrill seeking money maker but the way we are performing the show it’s that you can be seen as a strong, independent, goal driven individual but what’s beneath the surface can be depression and anxiety.” 

Kyle said he has gained a sense of healing in himself by being part of the show.

“I’ve faced a lot of raw truths about my past and being Aboriginal Australian and how we are three per cent of the Australian population and the highest percentage of youth suicide and youth imprisonment.

“I’m being able to tell the story of this struggle indigenous people are facing and that it’s hereditary. I don’t personally go through it but it can be passed down in the DNA.

“It’s a tough one for me as well. One of my younger brothers attempted a couple of times. I put the past into rehearsals and perform for him.”

He said turning to the arts helped him escape the life he was heading towards. “It’s done wonders for me”.

Growing up in the Manning, Kyle moved to Pottsville (Tweed Shire) when he was 13. He left school after year 11 and headed to the Central Coast in 2010 to start training with NAISDA, the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association dance college.

Over four years he gained his certificates two, three and four, plus his diploma in careers in dance and went on to dance with the Bangarra Dance Theatre during 2015, performing in their production of lore.

He was then cast in the Zeal Theatre production of Role Model and travelled around high schools in New South Wales for a few months.

Next was a short film called Hoax and from that audition he ended up signing with Helen Pandos Management, which covers Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles.

He appeared in The Preatures film clip called Yanada and for the past three years has been involved in Alice Can Dance at Alice Springs where he works with schools in the community and the Aboriginal community as well.

This month’s performances are not his first at the Sydney Opera House, with Kyle previously participating in Dance Rites, an Aboriginal event where dance troupes come together and have a friendly competition and learn from each other.

“Everyone has a good time and connects on the grounds of the Opera House.”

Kyle also creates his own music, which can be found on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes under Kyle Shilling Music, and last year appeared in Andy Saunders’ Deadly film clip.

This year he is teaching drama, contemporary, hip hop and physical theatre at Stacey Lee Centre Stage.

He continues to work towards his goals, with his main aims to feature in a Hollywood based film and be world known for his music.

“Everything I want to succeed in I want to go to the highest point with. I want to be international. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a kid.”

Kyle says he would love to see The Man with the Iron Neck come to Taree.

If you need support:

Lifeline 13 11 14 

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 

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