‘A smile can hide all the pain…‘
The Rhinestone Cowboy is a darkly humorous, raw and emotionally charged one-woman play written and performed by Edinburgh-based poet Hjarta and co-produced with audiovisual artist Harry Bongo.
Based on a true story and created by a real-life mother and son duo, the production follows a young man’s tumultuous journey from Scotland to Iceland, exposing the devastating impact of schizophrenia while celebrating the humour, resilience and complexity that defined his life.
Pulsating electronic sound design, featuring music from contemporary Scottish and Icelandic artists alongside original compositions, combines with bold cinematic projections to create a visceral, high-octane and razor-sharp reflection of a chameleon-like life: a blistering road trip from Auld Reekie to the Land of Fire and Ice, and a powerful tribute to the unforgettable Dan the Man.
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THE RHINESTONE COWBOY RIDES AGAIN!
We are back with a bigger, bolder production for our new dates in 2026!
Supported by Creative Scotland and National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations.
‘Rhinestone’ was written as a tribute to the lead character, Dan The Man. A young man with a glittering start to his new life in a bold new country who tragically succumbed to the demons that lived in his head. This play poses the question:
She says: “We hope that the play delivers not only a unique and relevant perspective of what it may be like to suffer from schizophrenia and psychotic episodes, but that it also raises the stark issue of suicide in young men in our society – across borders and countries.”
Why is suicide still a taboo subject? Should we be allowed to make the choice to take our own life if we are living a life of pain, even if it means leaving behind a wave of grief? How do we support those who feel it is the one way to peace?
The writer, Hjarta, has collaborated with a Scottish mental health charity, Change, to learn more about the effects of schizophrenia that sufferers face on a day-to-day basis.
Harry Bongo and Hjarta previously collaborated on her filmed poem ‘Persevere – Here’, a love letter to Leith.
