Isla Cowan’s ‘She Wolf’ is an ecofeminist monologue that confronts the harsh realities of not only living, but surviving in the modern world as a woman. The monologue is delivered by Maggie who is sitting on a bench in Edinburgh Zoo and is addressed to the wolves inhabiting the enclosure opposite. She interrogates woman’s place in a capitalist society and the suffocating pressures thrust upon women who are fighting for survival in a man’s world. She does so by examining the similarities between humans and animals and the complex relationships with the men in her life. The audience follows Maggie’s journey from endangered to dangerous, from woman to She Wolf.
Isla Cowan is the star of her self-written, one-woman show, and she relies on very little but her own theatrical abilities to carry the show entirely. The set is minimal, with only some artificial grass, a park bench, a bin and some litter scattered around. Assembly Roxy Downstairs is a small venue but perfect for a show like this, as it helps to generate an intimate atmosphere between performer and audience. The lighting and sound are simple yet effective, as they ensure that the real focus is on Cowan and her words.
Her performance as Maggie is captivating—she has the audience eating out of the palm of her hand, striking the perfect balance between serious and humorous. Her jokes land well with the audience, eliciting laughter thanks to her witty writing and slick delivery of her lines. Her shift from woman to wolf is unsettling yet convincing and tasteful, relying largely on animalistic body language which she executes perfectly. Cowan is a powerhouse and knows exactly what she is doing, her performance as Maggie is authentic and raw and her story-telling skills as both a writer and an actor are phenomenal.
Upon entering the theatre I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this show, but Cowan exceeded my expectations in every way possible. ‘She Wolf’ is definitely one of the best-written and most thought-provoking shows I have seen in a long time. I left the theatre feeling empowered, inspired, but most importantly I felt understood.
’She Wolf’ is running from the 4th-28th of August in Assembly Roxy Downstairs. Get your tickets from the link below:
Theatre Scotland 
Leave a comment