We sold out! All 40 free tickets were booked in advance for our very first Scratch Night at MooCow as part of Cowes Fringe 2025 – and what a night it was.
Curated by IW Creative Network in collaboration with Mayflower Studios, this was a bold experiment in testing new work in front of a live, supportive audience – and it more than delivered.
With a line-up of five superb acts plus our magnetic MC Krysia Mansfield, the evening brought together drama, spoken word, poetry, comedy, and music. The atmosphere was electric – raw, real, responsive. Our audience not only turned up, they engaged, offering constructive feedback after each piece and helping our artists reflect on what worked, what could evolve, and where their work might head next.
Scratch Night is all about bringing early-stage ideas to life – a vital platform for creatives to experiment, share, and grow. Usually held several times a year at Mayflower Studios, this pilot on the Isle of Wight proved just how powerful it can be in our local context.
Huge thanks to everyone who made it happen:
- MooCow for giving us the space to run with this idea.
- Krysia Mansfield, for seamlessly guiding us through the night and setting the tone for what a Scratch Night is all about.
- Teresa Grimaldi and Krysia, for CHUFFLE, a stunning overhead projection performance blending sound, image, and story in a moving tale of belonging.
- Tim Cooper, for taking bold creative risks in blending stand-up and poetry, exploring love, loss and identity.
- Jean G-Owen, whose lyrical performance reclaimed lost women’s voices through powerful spoken word.
- Anmarie Bowler, Rob Thompson, Hillard Morley and Kat Burton for Keeper – a fierce, funny and emotive piece born from creative sparks at a Mayflower Studios / IW Creative Network workshop event held in November 2024.
It was low-tech. It was fast-turnaround. It was Fringe. And it worked.
Want to get involved in future Scratch Nights or share your feedback on this one?
We’d love to hear from you – get in touch with: georgia@iwcreativenetwork.com
