Cowboy Graves

Two deserts on the other sides of the world and two wanderers over fifty years apart share the stage in this new storytelling show. The first story tells the origins of the Red Ghost of Arizona, where she came from, how she came to have the skeleton of a dead cowboy tied to her, and her quest to get back home. The second story follows a young man from Glasgow who finds himself in Egypt, on the cusp of a World War. He ends up wandering in the Great Sand Sea of the Sahara with nothing but a tin of corned beef and a German soldier to keep him sane. These two stories explore the search for home and the struggle for survival. They are about strangers in strange lands and the changes that occur when you’re lost in the desert.

This piece features live original music by Mounday Soutar, whose unique style of experimental country music takes inspiration from the Americana West and the wild places of the world. The piece is supported visually by a series of projected images. These images were pieced together from natural photography and vintage photographs to reflect the thematic journey of the stories.

This piece blends contemporary storytelling, folklore, history, and music to create a unique experience for the audience. It was first performed on February 24th at the Rum Shack in Glasgow where it enjoyed a sold-out performance. This project was developed as part of Wildcard Stories, a Creative Scotland funded, quarterly contemporary storytelling event.