Buttercup and Venus: Cowkeepers Extraordinaire
Amoosing, cowmedy-filled and udderly delightful – a heartfelt tale of identity and purpose through the eyes of ageing dairy cows. This project is proudly supported by the Creative Sparks Program.

An original short play highlighting the challenges faced by older women will premiere as part of the 2025 Brisbane Anywhere Festival at the beginning of August.

Writer, director and producer of the play, Joanne Tindale said her play, Buttercup and Venus: Cowkeepers Extraordinaire taps absurdist and surreal theatre traditions.

“In this imagined universe, two ageing dairy cows, Venus and Buttercup aren’t just housekeepers — they’re the backbone of a family with two children, seventeen-year-old Charlie, eleven-year-old Maxime and workaholic parents,” said Ms Tindale.

“The play tells the story of a society in which cows are bonded with a child from birth to the age of 18. As Charlie is about to turn 18, Venus must look for another job with accommodation or risk homelessness.”

With the cows as metaphors, the play explores themes of identity, loss of usefulness and the meaning of family.

Ms Tindale is a third year PhD candidate at Griffith Film School, Griffith University, Brisbane.

The play is informed by and builds on her research into the representation of older women in screenwriting. It is also Inspired by Joanne’s childhood chore of milking her family’s Jersey cow (named Venus), her work as an Au Pair in Paris and her own experience as a mother.

Ms Tindale’s previous work includes co-producing the 2021 Women in Film and Television’s (WIFT) Online Film Festival (funded by Screen Queensland) and directing the short documentary Mei Mei, Speak More Chinese (2023). She also draws on her previous career in international development, the community services sector and as a registered nurse.

Production Designer Georgina Greenhill and Graphic Designer Gillian Worrall are also key members of the production team.

The play will premiere at The Paint Factory in Yeronga with performances at 6:00pm on Friday 1 August, and 4:00pm on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August. An Auslan interpreter will be at all three performances.

Tickets are $20 and can be booked at https://anywhere.is/event/cowkeepers/

The Creative Sparks Grant Program is an initiative of Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland

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