My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding set to hit the road again

Following a successful application to Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding will tour again in Autumn 2016.

A co-production between Kali Theatre and two rural touring schemes, Black Country Touring and Arts Alive, the show invites audiences to the wedding reception of rural girl Claire to city boy Arjun. With a cast of comic characters brilliantly portrayed by four actors, the show is a fast moving comedy drama full of misunderstanding and mishaps, with plenty of neat twists and a Bhangra dance for everyone to join in at the end.

Based on real people’s experience of mixed marriages or rural weddings attended by city dwellers out of their comfort zone, My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding is a fun, light-hearted exploration of relationships across the divides of rural/urban, race and gender.

Chris Corner, General Manager of Kali Theatre, said: “the idea for My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding was first thought up in informal discussions at a NRTF conference. The day’s discussions and the convivial atmosphere inspired some creative and collaborative thinking.”

An excerpt from the show was performed at this year’s NRTF conference in Norfolk, to rave reviews from delegates.

Arts Alive and Black Country Theatre worked together to commission the touring show, specially conceived for rural and small-scale community venues and audiences. In its initial tour in September 2014, My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding played to over 2,000 audience members across the UK in 24 shows, most of which sold out. The new tour, to take place between 29th September and 6th November next year, will reach 2,000 people in rural areas in the North, Midlands, South East and South West.

Director of the show, Janet Steel said “I am delighted that this funding will enable us to take My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding to many more rural venues across the country. The response to the show on last year’s tour was so fantastic; people dressed up, wore their best hats and gumboots, made wedding cakes and had a great evening out. Many of the venues had to squeeze in extra chairs to cope with the demand. I am sure we will create the same buzz again next year.”

If you can’t wait until next year, here’s an invitation to the wedding that gives you a taste of what to expect.