Don Quixote's Lost Cause
A bold, musical tale of reinvention, resilience,
and refusing to give up on yourself
An evocative illustration or photo of Donnie Quickly on horseback (or atop a rusty bicycle or oil drum "steed") silhouetted against Appalachian hills — surreal, whimsical but grounded in rustic Americana. Slightly faded, timeless colour palette.
Too old to dream? Never.
Welcome to Don Quixote's Lost Cause
A bold, satirical and heartwarming reimagining of Cervantes' classic for the modern age. Set in the Appalachian South, it tells the story of Donnie Quickly, a small-town dreamer who refuses to believe he's too old to dream, to love, or to set out on one last adventure.
Blending theatre, original music, and storytelling, this project challenges how we see ageing, purpose, and the right to reinvent ourselves at any stage of life.
Touring show • Album of songs • Published book • Workshops & community engagement
Ageism affects us all: In a culture that quietly tells us to "act our age," this story celebrates resilience, imagination, and the possibility of new beginnings well into life.
A unique artistic voice: Combining satire, music, and storytelling rooted in Americana, Don Quixote's Lost Cause is accessible, emotionally resonant, and distinctively fresh.
Designed for impact: Alongside the show, we offer workshops and discussions that foster creativity, reflection, and conversation around identity, purpose, and wellbeing in midlife and beyond.
Not just a show: It's a whole experience — with multiple ways to journey into Donnie's world through live performance, music, lyrics, storytelling, and online content, allowing people to connect with its themes wherever they are.
Imagery idea: A split-image showing Donnie's "mundane" life (gas station) on one side and his dreamscape adventure (as a Texas Ranger) on the other.
The Story: In the winding backroads of Appalachia, Donnie Quickly — a gas station owner in his sixties — decides it’s time to live the dream he always held: to become an old-time Texas Ranger, right wrongs, and rescue Dolores, the woman who once stocked his snack aisle and stole his heart.
Armed with a moth-eaten Stetson, a creaky old horse, and boundless belief, Donnie sets off on a hallucinatory adventure filled with humour, heartbreak, and the quiet defiance of a man who won’t let society tell him he’s "too old to matter."
Imagery idea: A map-style illustration of Donnie’s journey with surreal landmarks (truck stops, diners, "dragons" disguised as oil rigs).
Sally in Blue Flames by Steve Bonham and The Long Road.
Video by Kev Moore.
Help bring a bold new work to life that challenges stereotypes about ageing.
Supports creative engagement with midlife communities often overlooked in cultural provision.
Strong alignment with Arts Council England's "Let's Create" strategy: inclusivity, innovation, place-based work.
Pilot phase with clear potential for national touring and digital legacy.
Quote one
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Quote two
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Flexible, small-scale touring production ideal for studio theatres, village halls, libraries, and community centres.
Engaging, story-driven content with original music and strong audience appeal.
Available with optional community workshops and/or post-show discussions.
Unique selling point: A show that speaks with warmth and humour to "midlife dreamers."
Imagery idea: A montage of intimate venue images, audience reactions, and musical moments.
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
piper verse 1 lyrics
Western Requiem (2025 edition) by Steve Bonham and The Long Road.
Video by Kat Hodgkinson and Christopher Lydon.
Amplifies the message that imagination and ambition do not have an expiry date.
Creates space for reflection and conversation on ageing, identity, and resilience.
Opportunity to collaborate on public events, discussion groups, or digital storytelling.
“The concept of ‘emerging playwright’ should not be confined to those under 40 — aged writers are often sidelined despite offering radical, vital new voices.”
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/jul/24/emerging-playwright-schemes-should-include-over-40s-say-uk-theatre-figures
**“Past it at 40? Artists fight ‘culture of ageism’ in the art world”**
The art world often prioritises youth-focused rewards, marginalising mature voices—including women and LGBTQ+ creators. Residency rules limited artists to under 40 for decades.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/01/31/past-it-at-40-artists-fight-culture-of-ageism-in-the-art-world
“The case for ‘late bloomers’” (Financial Times)
Research shows composers like Janáček and painters like van Gogh produced their best work after 50, demonstrating that creative genius can flourish in later life.
https://www.ft.com/content/f86c1e0f-73ab-46ef-b612-6b43ae9ba7bc
We’d love to connect.
Are you a funder interested in supporting bold, community-driven creative work?
A promoter looking for something different, heartfelt, and entertaining?
An organisation championing new narratives around age and identity?
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together.
Contact info@artisan-creative.com
Steve Bonham Creative Director 07711 788248
Christopher Lydon Creative Producer 07816 996769
Artisan Creative’s previous work
Celebrating the extraordinary stories of ordinary folk.
We believe in the 'artisan values' of craft, inspiration, authenticity and the love of the raw materials.
Artisan Creative was created to provide a platform for developing distinctive books, recordings and performances.
Stumbling Over Eden and The Spirit Dog
Stories and songs celebrating the adventurer,
explorer and vagabond within us all
Based upon Steve Bonham's much-loved book of the same name, "Stumbling Over Eden" is a one-hour show that combines story and song to celebrate the adventurer, explorer and vagabond within us all.
“Another incredible evening at Leigh library for Stumbling Over Eden … Steve really brought his trek to life through extracts, funny tales and amazing songs.”
Performance fusing storytelling and music, with music workshop activities.
A beautiful true story of a mysterious dog who adopts a bunch of travellers and walks with them over two mountain ranges and a high desert plain.
Developed in 2023/2024, this project was born out of the adventure Steve Bonham had trekking from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara desert, and the subsequent book he wrote, ‘Stumbling Over Eden’. With Arts Council England support, we developed this into a performance that toured to library and community venues in 2024 and continues into 2025.
From this overarching story and book, an idea for a children’s book came - “The Spirit Dog” - the true story of the mysterious dog who adopted Steve and his travelling companions for part of their trek. Again, with ACE support, we developed a performance/workshop that toured to library and community venues in 2024 (and into 2025), along with the creation of the children’s book itself, the illustration by Tasia Graham, and the accompanying website (thespiritdog.life) with follow up activities and the music inspired by the story.
"Witnessing the spark of imagination ignited in our students as they engaged with the story and the music was truly magical. Such an inspiring event!"
Trailer
How to Survive and Thrive in an Impossible World - with a piano!
Our “interactive, wellbeing, musical show thingy!” was created in 2022 with support from Arts Council England, Air Arts and University Hospital of Derby and Burton. Pilot touring of interactive wellbeing performances to hospital sites in Derby and Burton, as well as community venues.
Touring continued into 2023, including two weeks at Edinburgh Fringe festival, and 2024/2025, touring to rural and community venues, and to Brighton Fringe.
More at www.htsat.co.uk
Full pilot show
“Entertaining and refreshingly different.”
Rise of the Artisan documentary
Read more here: thelongroadband.net/riseoftheartisan
Strange Motel music video
Down Here At The Crossroads (2020-21)
Writing, recording and releasing of eponymous four-track EP exploring the stories to be found down at the crossroads, the starting point for igniting the “artisan” movement, lighting the beacon for audiences & artists to really explore the extraordinary stories of ordinary folk.
Along with a livestreamed performance of the new tracks, we also created our documentary, Rise of the Artisan, as part of this project.
Find out more at thelongroadband.net/crossroads
Single cover
Washed Away music video
Livestreamed gig
Something’s Gotta Change music video
