A rollicking queer Western like nothing you've seen before.

Cowbois by Charlie Josephine played in Stratford-upon-Avon's Swan Theatre from 14 October to 18 November 2023, before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre, London from 11 January to 10 February 2024. ‘A joyous queer cowboy romp’ (West End Best Friend) co-directed by Charlie Josephine and Sean Holmes.

In a sleepy town in the Wild West, the women drift through their days like tumbleweed. Their husbands, swept up in the goldrush, have been missing for almost a year and show no sign of returning. In fact, the town is almost cut off from outsiders entirely, with only one drunken sheriff for protection.

‘A whole new frontier’ (Guardian)

That is until handsome bandit Jack Cannon swaggers up to the town’s saloon, looking for a place to hide from the bounty hunters on his tail.

Armed with a wink, and with a gun by their side for good measure, Jack’s explosive arrival inspires a gender revolution, and starts a fire under the petticoat of every one of the town’s repressed inhabitants.

‘Swagger, humour, and plenty of good old-fashioned gun-slinging action’ (WhatsOnStage)

For more information about themes and contents of this play, please see our content advisory page.

Cowbois explores themes of gender expression. More about the transgender community, the word 'queer' and using pronouns.