In this week’s Take the Stage we meet Saskia and Faith, two Acting for 21st Century graduates from our Brighton campus in 2022. Saskia and Faith have stepped into the world of writing and directing, forming their own company called Oblique Theatre. They’ll be debuting their show Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse at Brighton Fringe 2025 with help from a bursary awarded by Pebble Trust.
HOW DID YOU COME TO BE PERFORMING AT BRIGHTON FRINGE?
Faith: We’ve been writing the show for about 2 years since leaving university, and we initially wanted to participate in the fringe last year but felt too rushed. This year, we’ve been applying for bursaries and funding. We went through the BN1 Arts graduate scheme, as we knew people there from our college days. Through this scheme, they paid for our entry into the fringe and allowed us to use their venue for free, which was a crucial kickstart for our company.
HOW HAS THE PEBBLE TRUST BURSARY HELPED YOU BRING THE SHOW TO LIFE?
Saskia: They’re a young people’s trust that funds various youth activities – sporting events, gymnastics, dance competitions, boxing. Their bursary targets young people aged 18-25, and we’re both 22. We were applying for bursaries before securing the graduate scheme, covering all bases in case we needed to hire venues or rehearsal spaces. Most didn’t respond, but then Pebble Trust came through just days after we got the graduate scheme. Beyond money, they provide mentoring, which complements what we get from the graduate scheme. Now we can invest in advertising, costumes, and props for a more well-rounded show. Receiving the bursary award made us feel that hard work does pay off, even when it doesn’t always feel like it at the time.
WHAT IS COWPOKES IN A BUNKHOUSE ABOUT?
Faith: Our theatre company, Oblique Theatre, aims to take theatre back to its storytelling roots. We want people to understand the origins of theatre, tracing it back to ancient times when performance and storytelling were fundamental human expressions.
We both love cowboys, and through research discovered that, contrary to the gun-slinging outlaw image, cowboys were originally simply cattle herders. Our show explores this realistic side. The cowboys would sleep alongside the cattle in the bunkhouse and would sing to calm the cows at night. We developed this concept further: what if they told stories instead of singing?
Our show features three cowpokes who must work together despite their mutual dislike. The audience plays the role of cattle, being ‘herded’ into the theatre space as the cowpokes attempt to lull them to sleep. One cowpoke tells a traditional folk tale about two brothers, but interestingly, the other cowpokes know different versions of the same story. This explores the concept of nature versus nurture.
YOUR SHOW FEATURES AN ALL-FEMALE CAST, WAS THAT INTENTIONAL?
Saskia: From the start, we knew it would be a full female company, as opportunities for women are limited. All three characters are written as men but played by women. It’s already blurring the line between real and fictional, we don’t have cowboys anymore, so why can’t women play these roles? We’re creating opportunities different from the stereotypical roles for women. Our show has plenty of comedy, challenging the stereotype that women aren’t funny. We’re going to prove people wrong with a fun show that creates space for women. We both decided not to perform in the show ourselves, because we want to direct something, to write and direct and see our company perform it.
HOW HAVE THE LECTURERS AND STAFF AT THE BRIGHTON CAMPUS HELPED YOU REALISE YOUR GOAL?
Faith: So many teachers inspired us – Judith, Kim, Sinead, Barney (who’s a legend), and Kirsty – who has also had us visit to talk about our company to students. When we left uni we didn’t get signed with an agent, we decided to start our company. Even after graduating, they’ve continued supporting us. When we’ve had questions about applying for bursaries, Barney has helped us. Alex Watson reviewed our scripts immediately. It feels nice not to be forgotten and to know they still believe in us, which we’ve heard isn’t common in many drama schools, some appear to just say “you’ve graduated, you’re on your own.”
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SEE YOUR CREATION COME TO LIFE?
Saskia: Even during auditions recently, it was wonderful to see people playing our characters and reading our scenes. There was laughter in the room, and the environment felt great. We’ve already sold a quarter of the tickets, which is impressive considering we haven’t even started our promotional advertising yet. It’s mostly friends and family, but that’s a good start!
Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse by Oblique Theatre is playing on 03/04 May 2025 at BN1 Arts Studio Theatre. Tickets are £8 and £6 (concession) and are available at brightonfringe.org/events/cowpokes-in-a-bunkhouse
You can also follow Oblique Theatre on Instagram at @obliquetheatre
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or you can Apply Now, or book an Open Day on our Events page.
