Kat Sandler’s WILDWOMAN to kick off Her Words Festival at Soulpepper Theatre
Soulpepper Theatre’s fall programming comes in the form of the Her Words Festival, a two-month-long event featuring work by some of Canada’s most exciting female playwrights and emerging voices.
Along with presentations of works-in-progress and community conversations with industry leaders, the festival is set to include three mainstage productions.
The first is the world premiere of Kat Sandler’s WILDWOMAN.
Based on the true story that inspired Beauty and the Beast, WILDWOMAN examines the lives of three women as they wrestle for survival and legacy in the 16th-century French court of King Henry II.
Newly arrived in France, queen-to-be Catherine de’ Medici must contend with her unruly husband, a scheming maidservant, and the king’s much older mistress — all while struggling to give the kingdom what it needs most: an heir. But it’s Pete, a “wildman” kept in a cage for the king’s amusement, who has the most surprising impact.
Sandler will direct an experienced cast of local talent: Rosemary Dunsmore, Dan Mousseau, Rose Napoli, Tony Ofori, and Gabriella Sundar Singh. Working with them is a design team made up of Nick Blais (set), Michelle Tracey (costumes), Kimberly Purtell (lighting), and Maddie Bautista (sound).
“WILDWOMAN is a dark comedy about three very different women fighting for power in a time that is so unlike and also disturbingly like our own,” said Sandler in a press release. “It’s been incredible to be surrounded and supported by the other bold and brilliant female artists of [the Her Words Festival] as we bring our ideas to life, and thrilling to see the development of so many pieces that touch on themes that are top of mind for so many of us: love, legacy and power.”
WILDWOMAN runs at Soulpepper Theatre from October 5–29. Tickets are available here.
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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