Cancer story to be brought to the Tauranga stage

Daniel Tobias reflects on his battle with testicular cancer in The Orchid and The Crow. Photo/supplied

Taking the story of his cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival on to the stage was always the plan for Melbourne performer Daniel Tobias, the question was around the form it would take.

"I got strength during my treatment hearing other people's stories and I vowed to share mine and help others if I could. For me, the sharing reminds me how fragile life is."

But it took 10 years for Tobias to figure out how to tell the story with inspiration striking after seeing three stand-up comedians do "quite theatrical, storytelling" solo shows.

"I liked the conversation they were having with the audience and the use of humour."

He began pulling together a multi-talented team that included a choreographer, composer and a script consultant to help create his one-man show which owes a broad nod to cabaret.

"It was never going to be a sad thing," Tobias says of The Orchid and The Crow, despite the theme of stage four testicular cancer.

"I don't want to be locked in a room for an hour hearing a sad story so I didn't think anyone else would either."

The show includes original music and plenty of humour. "I gave myself the challenge of making each chapter as engaging as I could."

During treatment Tobias looked up to Lance Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer who went on to become one of the world's greatest road cyclists (before confessing to doping in 2013).

"Now his story is the butt of a lot of jokes because of his fall from grace but at the time, to me, he was like a prophet or an angel."

Tobias came to understand the power of faith during his treatment, a concept he hadn't previously considered thanks to being raised in a "Jewish atheist" family.

"Faith can take many forms, not just religious faith. It can be faith in your family or the community you are a part of. At the time it gave me comfort and strength."

The story has a happy ending - Tobias is clear of the cancer and the last 15 years have been the best of his life, he says.

"I've done extraordinary things and my dreams have come true - I'm touring the world performing my own work. But I'm also stuck with the human condition of sometimes taking things for granted. And then there's being surrounded by advertising and marketing that constantly reminds me how crap I am so I have to work hard sometimes to fill my head with good thoughts."