The Rhinestone Cowboy is a darkly humorous, raw, and emotive one-woman play written and performed by Edinburgh-based poet Hjarta and co-produced with audiovisual artist Harry Bongo.

Based on a true story and written by a real-life mother and son duo, this high-octane production maps a young man’s tumultuous journey from Scotland to Iceland. Pulsating sound design fused with bold visual projections provide a visceral backdrop to a blistering trip from one emotional landscape to another.

Written as a tribute to Dan The Man – whose humour, charm and resilience masked internal demons – the work celebrates his kaleidoscopic life.

The Rhinestone Cowboy poses a difficult question: ‘should we be allowed the choice to take our own life if we are living a life of pain, even if it leaves behind a wave of grief?’ The writer, Hjarta, has collaborated with a Scottish mental health charity, Change, to learn more about these themes. She says:

We hope that the play delivers not only a unique and relevant perspective of what it may be like to suffer from schizophrenia and psychotic episodes, but that it also raises the stark issue of suicide in young men in our society – across borders and countries.

Praise for The Rhinestone Cowboy