WILDWOMAN
by Kat Sandler
Directed by Jamie King
A Gateway Theatre and Alberta Theatre Projects Production
Richmond: March 26 - April 4, 2026. Calgary: April 21 - May 10, 2026.
Featuring:
Catherine De Medici Synthia Yusuf
Kitty Elizabeth Barrett
Diane De Poitiers N Girgis
Henry II Nathan Kay
Pete Connor Suart
Lisa Goebel Intimacy Director
Olivier Lunardi Fight Director
Creative Team:
Narda McCarroll Set & Prop Design
Alaia Hamer Costume Design
Gerald King Lighting Design
Nancy Tam Sound Design
Victoria Snashall Stage Manager
Lester Lee ASM for Gateway
Donna Sharpe ASM for ATP
The Story:
A seductively funny, daring twist on regal history.
In Wildwoman, we follow the story of Catherine de Medici, the young, newlywed of King Henry II of France, who thinks her life at court will be a fascinating forum of political discourse. Instead, the palace is a cruel and disturbing place where her singular function is to be a baby-making machine for male heirs. Even the other women at her side, a scheming lady-in-waiting and the king’s power-hungry mistress, seem to mostly fend for themselves. The only kinship she finds is with the paperback-romance hot, head-to-toe hair wildman kept in the dungeon as one of the king’s collection of caged oddities. His friendly and feral presence gradually awakens Catherine’s own wild side, and once she unleashes it, no one is safe from her vengeful wrath.
Based on the shocking true story that inspired Beauty and the Beast, Kat Sandler brings her trademark rapid-fire wit to this salacious saga of an infamous bad girl who could not be tamed. A viciously funny and sexy thrill ride, Wildwoman is about what happens when we let the monster out. Being bad never felt so good.
The Buzz:
“Director Jamie King’s production is gorgeous…
And you’d be hard-pressed to find a stronger acting company than the one King has assembled.”
- Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet
“Sandler’s script is so sharp, and Yusuf’s performance is so deeply layered, that even as Cathy becomes more warped and monstrous, you still feel like you understand her—and maybe even want to celebrate her a little.
These elements are bolstered by the production’s design. Director Jamie King and lighting designer Gerald King draw the audience in with bold choices… It all makes for a delicious theatre experience.”
- Breanne Doyle, Stir Vancouver
“Sandler has created a stunning play of two halves, both acts are similar in their intensity but wildly different in mood that director Jamie King skillfully seams together without being overly jarring… Wildwoman appears as a masterpiece period work but slaps the audience in the face with it’s boldness.”
- Jay Minter, On The List
“Jamie King directs like a seasoned juggler, knowing when to keep the play buoyant and frivolous, but also when to let it be serious. She makes sure Wildwoman is not a passive experience for its audiences.”
- Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Herald
“Jamie King is the king of this production. She presides over this production with passion and precision. Long live the king.”
- Caroline Russell-King, Postcard Reviews
“The entire show had incredibly high production value and was beautifully executed by an imaginative creative team. If you’re brave enough to dive into this dark and twisted fairy-tale world, I urge you to see this production.”
- Amanda Barnum, BroadwayWorld
“Director Jamie King has assembled a terrific cast that brings depth and comedy to the play while diving into some very dark realities about life in the Royal Court.”
-James Hutchison, jameshutchison.ca
Production Photos:
Promotional and Production Photos: David Cooper Photography