lovebug + worm
Photo credit: Julia Bauer
T w o C o w boys and
the Sky
​Two Cowboys and the Sky is a physical storytelling and dance performance for audiences ages 3-7 and their adults, featuring live music and audience participation. It has been in development since 2024, supported by Creative Scotland's Open Fund, Platform, Lyra and SUPERFAN, and will premiere in Spring 2027. Two Cowboys and the Sky is made by lovebug + worm with musician-performer Samuel Pahsby.​​
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Two Cowboys and the Sky celebrates getting distracted and the discoveries we make along the way. We had so many ideas we couldn’t pick a favourite, so we decided to do them all: from high-heeled, haughty and fly-hungry frogs, all the way to rock n’ roll snowflakes, and who could forget the wryly rats in the swanky sewer, and of course, it’s about cowboys too. We loved all the instruments Samuel could play, so we picked every single one! Through its game-like episodic structure, Two Cowboys and the Sky constantly surprises the audience with new characters, musical instruments and movement styles, which allow us to showcase the endless and expansive discoveries we can make by paying attention to the world around us, and the friendships present in all pockets of life.
In Two Cowboys and the Sky, we invite the audience to be distracted by the world around us, to listen to the horizon and the wise old mountains, to remember how much life is dancing at the bottom of the sea, and most importantly, to come and dance with us too. Everything in life dances, we just need to pay attention. An ever-changing live musical soundscape accompanies this adventure.
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Through the use of music as narrative and the show’s episodic and eclectic structure with all its bizarre beginnings and unexpected ends, if someone does leave the room, for whatever reason, the performance doesn’t leave them behind. In Two Cowboys and the Sky, we embrace getting distracted and celebrate the discoveries we make along the way. We didn’t pick one story and we don’t want to make our audience pick either. We recognise that us, on stage, is not the only story in the room, but that there are countless others, whether that be the story of the lights changing, the textures of the seat, or the new friend next to you. We welcome all of this as part of Two Cowboys and the Sky, and invite the audience to bring all of that with them as they join us on stage to finish the performance with us, bow and all.
Two Cowboys and the Sky demonstrates commitment and silliness in equal measure: whether that be composing and performing an original soundtrack on piano, drums, bass, egg shaker and glockenspiel, learning b-boy arm balances or challenging ourselves to perform elaborate choreographies 10 times too fast.
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This performance includes a pre-show movement, music and costume workshop and access to a digital album containing 15 original songs, composed and performed by Samuel Pashby. The workshop is inspired by a series of workshops we led with Dundee Rep, St. Columbkille's Primary School, Platform, Home Start, Creative Hangouts and the Village Storytelling Centre (2024-2026).
R&D trailer from 2025 (Platform)
Want to know more? Listen to the real experts !!
" My three-year-old was scared of theatre: before Two Cowboys and the Sky all but one performance we went to (and we tried so many) ended in tears and fears. She was scared coming into this performance as well, but I could see her relaxing from the start - first she found the courage to sit down, then to come closer, and by the end she was on stage in full on participation. This is all because Two Cowboys and the Sky is a dialogue: children (and adults) are given ample choices (different seats, different instruments to consider), performers greet the audiences and make sure they are invited into the show, and then performance vignettes rotate different worlds and characters, with something for everyone. Two Cowboys and the Sky is also a rare find amongst children's theatre. It is not just that it doesn't look down on young audiences or that is as engaging for adults; it is also that it presents performance as play - a way to discover, invent, and explore different stories and creatures. My daughter spent the remainder of the day 'playing' Two Cowboys and the Sky, finding different trios to test ('two cars and a bicycle!', 'two flowers and a cloud') and perform on her own. Whenever we go to theatre now (and we do, Two Cowboys broke the spell) she recalls the game again - it has become a shorthand for performance in our house. "​​
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-parent from our 2024 sharing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
​“We attended the fantastic workshop at the start of the summer holidays then went back the next day to watch the performance. It was so great, I loved the way that they got all the kids to join in and have fun whilst moving their bodies and just releasing all their energy in such a fun way! My boy is six and he came home from the workshop day saying we needed to invite his friend who loves to dance, she met us on the Friday for the performance and loved it. The performance held my son's attention throughout and most importantly my one and a half year old who is a bit harder to please. After the performance they were given the time to play and explore the instruments which my boy loved and I loved all the participation at the end of the show. I love the team behind this, they have such a lovely way with the kids making them feel safe and welcome to join in or sit and watch. I love how much fun they had. I now follow the performers on Instagram and will do my best to attend any future workshops/ events. "
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-parent from our 2025 sharing and workshop at Platform
“Two Cowboys and the Sky is a funny, moving, surprising piece of work and a true pleasure to have in the venue.
The sound and movement vignettes were so creative and evocative - that even within the stripped back setting of Platform's Studio rehearsal space, with minimal tech capacities, whole worlds and distinct characters were evoked - to the delight of the children attending. Most of the attendees at the performance were participants of Platform's Summer Holiday Meal Programme which offers free breakfast, lunch, arts and wellbeing activities to children and families who might need this support over the school break. Most of the attendees of the programme are families who would not otherwise attend theatre - for a variety of reasons - financial, cultural and due to a range of other barriers. For some of the families it was their first experience of live theatre and of physical theatre. We are very grateful to Florence and Hope for developing and sharing their work within this context - it was a very rewarding experience for all involved.”
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-Anna Hodgart (performance and music programmer at Platform in 2025)
“Florence, Hope and Sam delivered a magical workshop that had children and their parents/carers engaged and absorbed. Parents and our staff team were all immediately asking ‘when can we have them back’ as families loved it so much!”
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-Imogen Brown (Assistant Senior Family Support Coordinator at Home Start in 2025)
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