Cowboys and Lesbians

by Billie Esplen

A funny, tender and wildly theatrical queer romantic comedy about friendship, fantasy and finding the courage to tell your own story.

When repressed British schoolfriends Nina and Noa begin writing a parody American coming-of-age romance, their imagined world of ranch-hands, forbidden love and melodramatic secrets starts to take on a life of its own.

As cowboys, lesbians, teachers, brothers, farm girls and fantasy heart-throbs collide, Nina and Noa discover that the stories they laugh at, rewrite and escape into might be revealing more about them than they are ready to admit.

Sharp, mischievous and full of heart, Cowboys and Lesbians explores the intersection between sexuality and fantasy through the eyes of two closeted teenage girls. Billie Esplen’s debut play asks how the stories we consume shape the stories we tell about ourselves … and what happens when real desire refuses to stay safely hidden inside fiction.

Blending fast-paced contemporary dialogue with heightened cowboy melodrama, Cowboys and Lesbians is a gift for performers and a highly flexible choice for schools, youth theatres, fringe companies and small-scale productions.

Casting: 2 actors, both playing later teens, or up to 8 actors
Running time: 60–75 minutes
Themes: Queer identity, friendship, coming of age, fantasy, storytelling, desire, genre parody, first love

For actors
A brilliant showcase for comic timing, emotional detail and multi-roling. The two central roles move between naturalistic school scenes and a wildly imagined American melodrama, giving performers the chance to play with pace, style, character transformation and romantic tension.

For small theatre companies
Originally conceived as a two-hander, Cowboys and Lesbians is ideal for fringe, studio and touring productions. It can also be expanded for a larger ensemble, making it a flexible option for companies who want bold new writing with a strong hook and manageable production demands.

For drama teachers and students
A rich contemporary text for exploring duologue work, multi-roling, genre, parody and queer representation. The contrast between Nina and Noa’s real world and their fictional cowboy romance gives students a clear route into discussions of structure, theatrical style, identity and the power of storytelling.

“Funny, mischievous, utterly absorbing…”
The Times

“Outrageous, hilarious, and wonderfully wholesome, this queer rom-com is exactly what the title insists and more.”
Playbill

“Incredibly tender, fuelled by the hopeful urges of early understandings of queerness and the desperate desire to be kissed.”
The Guardian

“Refreshing, original and laugh out loud hilarious.”
London Theatre Review

COWBOYS AND LESBIANS FOR GCSE STUDY:

Schools/colleges must seek AQA approval of their play choices
by submitting a Play Approval Form directly to their
allocated AQA GCSE NEA (non-exam assessment) adviser.

Production photography: Lidia Crisafulli