Cowpuncher My Ass to return to The Southbank Centre for one night only

The Southbank Centre has announced the return of Cowpuncher My Ass for a one-night-only performance.

The genre-defying performance piece is commissioned by the Southbank Centre with choreographer Holly Blakey, original score by Mica Levi and costume design by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivenne Westwood.

An expanded Cowpuncher My Ass will run on Wednesday 15 February 2023 to the Royal Festival Hall, following the sell-out success of its previous stagings in the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2018 and 2020.

Cowpuncher My Ass explores the vibrant, and often violent, tale of the Wild West genre. Cowboys wrestle with gender stereotypes, identity and sexual politics as they venture into the territory between high art and popular culture.

A centrepiece of the production, the bold costumes are again designed by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood. From corseted dresses to oversized shirts and western belts, these raw, unisex designs evoke a modern spirit of punk.

Choreographer Holly Blakey said: “It has been four years of playing with this sequel of ideas, unearthing and retelling and driving somewhere new. I am honoured and excited to close this journey at the Royal Festival Hall with collaborators I so love and admire.”

Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, added: “This is such a glorious, genre-defying collaboration by artists fizzing with creative ideas and we’re excited to see Holly and Mica’s truly bold creative vision grow from strength to strength.

“After sell-out runs in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the grandeur of the Royal Festival Hall will be a fitting setting for such a daring, and newly expanded, cross-artform work. Their return to the Southbank Centre in February will be an early highlight of 2023’s performance and dance programme.”

For more information and tickets, visit southbankcentre.co.uk