Thursday 22 May 7–10pm, MooCow, Cowes. FREE!
Kick off the Cowes Fringe early with ‘Scratch Night’ – a lively evening of short, sharp shows and punchy works-in-progress at MooCow.
Presented in partnership with IW Creative Network and Mayflower Studios, Scratch Night showcases brand-new theatre, comedy, spoken word, and performance pieces created by local artists. From experimental theatre to musical comedy, each act shares a glimpse of new work in development.
This is a unique opportunity to see early-stage material brought to life in front of a live audience. Expect a relaxed, supportive atmosphere where you’re invited to enjoy, respond and help shape what these works might become.
Our fantastic acts and MC host for the night are:
MC host – Krysia Mansfield
Krysia’s diverse career as a singer, actor, writer spans from Sydney to London, Europe and the Isle of Wight. Highlights include film & tv work with BBC 1, ITV, Netflix, Warner Bros and Universal Pictures, theatre work with Royal Opera Covent Garden, Arcola Theatre, Actors East, L’offerta Musicale di Venezia, Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe and most recently with StoneCrabs Theatre.
Keeper
‘Keeper’ is a sharp, darkly funny new performance adapted from a series of short stories by writer Anmarie Bowler. Adapted and brought to life on stage by Rob Thompson, Hillard Morley, and Kat Burton, the piece follows a quick-witted, battle-worn housekeeper juggling family and work in a world of second homes and domestic chaos. Set in a cramped flat shared with her mother and daughter, Keeper explores themes of class, care, and what it really means to call somewhere home – with humour, grit, and a defiant edge.
Anmarie is the founder & editor of ‘Brevity’, The Isle of Wight’s Literary Handbill, a zine showcasing the best flash fiction from Island writers.
Jean G-Owen
‘Wyuen Pyne‘ is a work-in-progress reclaiming women’s stories from centuries of silencing. Drawing on historical records, folklore, and imagined voices, Jean G-Owen reimagines how women punished, misrepresented, or erased might speak for themselves. Expect lyrical testimony, fragments of recovered history, and pieces that blend story, memory, and rhythm – including Jenny Pipes, Molly Leigh, and How to Spot a Witch.
HbA1c
HbA1c is an experimental interactive cabaret piece by our host for the evening – Krysia Mansfield, exploring the highs and lows of being a type 1 diabetic.
CHUFFLE
An abstract, spontaneous live performance by Teresa Grimaldi, with sound from Krysia Mansfield. ‘CHUFFLE’ is a moving collage of light, sound, and storytelling, using overhead projection, narration, and elemental materials like sand, seawater, and stripes. It reimagines Tracy Mikich’s tale of Tamillia – a tiger on a journey to find home. Rooted in themes of displacement, sanctuary, and belonging, the piece echoes the wider ‘Chuffle’ project at Boojum & Snark, inviting audiences to reflect on what it means to seek – and find – safety.
Tim Cooper
Poet, storyteller, and host of Ventnor Exchange’s SpeakEasy, Tim Cooper brings a powerful blend of stand-up, spoken word, and lyrical narrative to the stage. A past winner of the Dublin Story Slam, Tim’s work moves fluidly between humour and emotional depth, using poetry in all its forms to explore modern life. Tim will perform two new pieces – ‘Porno’, a sharp, surprising journey from stand-up to ekphrastic sonnet via Renaissance art and sex work; and ‘Wedding Story Part 2’, a deeply personal reflection on family, illness, and identity, delivered with warmth and truth. Expect poignancy, punchlines, and poetry with a purpose.
CLICK HERE to your FREE tickets!
Don’t forget to visit the Cowes Fringe website to check out the full schedule of what’s on.
Venue Address: Moocow, 55 Cross Street, Cowes, IW, PO31 7TA.
Please remember to factor some extra travelling time in/out of Cowes due to the temporary one-way system on the Cowes to Newport Road.
