Reviews

Heroine had development support from Creative Scotland Producer's Project and
Aberdeen Performing Arts, after which a supported preview at Edinburgh Festival
Theatre took place in March 2017, to critical acclaim. Heroine captivated audiences at
Assembly Festival in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 after winning a Made In
Scotland Award. During the run, heroine was longlisted for the Amnesty Freedom of
Expression Award, shortlisted for the SIT UP Award and won runner up at the prestigious
Scottish Theatre Arts Trust, famously known as the Flying Artichoke Award. Heroine was
invited to debut in the USA at The Kennedy Center in February 2020 attended by
representatives from The Pentagon, The DOD, The US Military and Members of
Congress, with standing ovations every night.
"An impressive performance... Heroine is a compelling story of resilience and survival,
told by Wells in her own script with tremendous assurance and vivid attention to
detail. A clean and focused production... with Matt Padden's excellent soundscape
putting us on edge and the unsentimental poetry of the script keeping us gripped, it's
a tough, impassioned show."
- Mark Fisher, The Scotsman

"Wells entirely embodies her protagonist whether in harrowing episodes of attack... or

throughout her progression through rage, helplessness and redemption. At no point
does she shy away from any aspect of Danna's story, including the pitch dark humour
of a survivor. Her mesmerising performance combines flawlessly with carefully
considered staging and lighting... and Wells cleverly, painstakingly depicts the sheer,
exhausting labour of healing. A real miracle... the effects of a play like Heroine will far
outlast anything that a mere soundbite could hope to convey. A play that impacts its
audience whilst dramatising sensitive subject matter with the utmost respect.
Powerful, visceral theatre that is not easily forgotten." 

- Marc David Jacobs, The Fountain (2017)

"Hilarious and chilling. Without flinching, Wells takes her audience out to the edge and
shows them the blazing fires beneath: she does an exceptional job. There is a real
spontaneity to Wells’ performance, too. She has a story to tell, but no axe to grind here,
and the words fall out as if they were coming to her on the spot, not carefully scripted.
Tension, release and laughter... she knows a thing or two about pace - both in the
telling and in the writing. If you can’t see it now, mark it well and go and see it when
you can. What appears, on the surface, to be the furthest from what you would want as
the basis for an evening’s entertainment, turns out to be fascinating and gloriously
entertaining – even as it bites hard.”
- Thom Dibdin, All Edinburgh Theatre (2017)

"A prime example of raw, honest theatre, (Heroine) is a profound amalgam of anger,
outrage, fragility and survival. Rather than an extensive discussion of the sexual assault
Davis experienced, (there is) a lacerating depiction of the event, hushing what feels
like the world for a few minutes as Well’s dedication and respect for the role speaks
volumes. A harrowing piece of beautiful theatre – distressingly lyrical, (but) despite its
subject matter, is funny, touching, engaging and in some morbid sense – comforting.
A story we need to hear. A story we must preserve."

-Reviewhub, Dominic Corr, Kennedy Center Debut (2020)

"Wells makes us feel and understand the both the sheer horror of Danna’s experience,
and the extraordinary reserves of resilience, humour and spiritual openness that
enable her to begin to heal, and live on. Heroine comes surrounded, as it should, with
the whole panoply of support services that now exist for (those people) subjected to
such horrors; but whether Danna’s story reflects aspects of your own life or not, it’s
worth making the effort to experience this rich and life-affirming piece of solo theatre."
Twitter - “An outstanding production."
- Joyce MacMillian, The Scotsman (2020)

“Heroine is a heart-wrenching, gut-punching, striking solo show that gives voice to

countless survivors... Poised and powerful… with a text that is elegant yet explosive,
heroine is an important and timely play with hope on the horizon and a bright future
ahead of it.”
- Deborah Klayman, The Skinny, 2018

"While the assault was laid excruciatingly bare (as it needs to be), I was glad to see that
Mary Jane Wells as writer and performer and Susan Worsfold as director put the
incisive focus on Danna’s story, humour, person and survival. The black humour Wells
imbues into and throughout the harrowing trauma in Danna’s life only strengthens the
piece, as it surely must strengthen Danna herself. Mary Jane Wells has written a visceral
piece that will continue to tell the truth and empower others to do the same. Thank
you to Danna Davis for sharing her story and to Mary Jane Wells for capturing it,
conveying it and honouring it so well - for Danna and all survivors."

- Erin Roche, Edinburgh Guide, 2020

"Unquestionably potent and sometimes bleak, Heroine still manages to remain a

celebration of the human spirit. Heroine is unsparing in its portrayal of this grievous
wounding of one woman’s soul, Wells’ dramatic monologue brings Davis to the stage,
warts and all; Mary Jane Wells is both entirely invested, and completely believable.
From accents, to movement, there’s nothing to break the illusion. This is a fine piece of
acting. There’s well judged humour, real momentum and pace in the portrayal of the
aftermath, and the portrayal of Danna’s sometimes hopeless, other times desperate,
journey towards the paradoxical balm of forgiveness. Heroine certainly doesn’t
suggest any miracle cures; but it does offer hope."

-The Scottish Play, William Quinn, 2020

 “An exceptional
“An exceptional production.
production. Mary
Mary Jane
Jane Wells
Wells is
is outstanding.
outstanding. ItIt will
will shock
shock you
you to
to the
the core,
core, make
make you
you laugh
laugh and
and
cry, but needs
cry, butLorem to
needsipsum be told. ‘Heroine’ has opened the eyes of so many
to be told. ‘Heroine’ has opened the eyes of so many people...people...
So powerful in every conceivable
So powerful in every conceivable way.”
way.”
-- ANONYMOUS
ANONYMOUS SURVIVOR
SURVIVOR

“Compelling narrative
“Compelling narrative and
and commanding
commanding yet
yet entertaining
entertaining performance
performance from
from talented
talented Mary
Mary Jane
Jane Wells
Wells in
in
@heroinetheplay… a must see for anyone wanting to try and understand their consequences from aa
@heroinetheplay… a must see for anyone wanting to try and understand their consequences from
personalised testimony.”
personalised testimony.”

-- FIONA
FIONA HYSLOP,
HYSLOP, CULTURE
CULTURE MINISTER
MINISTER

“This is
“This is aa must-see,
must-see, beautifully
beautifully and
and brilliantly
brilliantly told
told by
by Mary
Mary Jane
Jane Wells.
Wells. ItIt resonates
resonates with
with sexual
sexual abuse
abuse in
in any
any
and all
and all contexts
contexts but
but is
is all
all the
the more
more compelling
compelling by by the
the context
context and
and by
by the
the nuances
nuances of of the
the narrative…
narrative…
This is
This is truth
truth which
which needs
needs heard,
heard, pure
pure and
and simple.”
simple.”
-- GWEN
GWEN MCLEOD,
MCLEOD, BRITISH
BRITISH COUNCIL
COUNCIL

“Simply the
“Simply the most
most incredible,
incredible, human,
human, humane,
humane, beautifully
beautifully judged,
judged, emotional
emotional rollercoaster
rollercoaster of
of aa show.
show.
An amazing
An amazing story.
story. So
So marvelously
marvelously realised.”
realised.”

-- SANDY
SANDYTHOMPSON,
THOMPSON, ARTISTIC
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR,
DIRECTOR, POORBOY
POORBOYTHEATRE
THEATRE COMPANY
COMPANY

“Feeling aa bit
“Feeling bit speechless
speechless coming
coming outout of
of @heroinetheplay.
@heroinetheplay. Just
Just amazing
amazing and
and so
so powerful.
powerful. This
This really
really is
is aa 5*
5*
and life
and life changing
changing play
play telling
telling aa very
very important
important story.”
story.” #mustsee
#mustsee
KATYWARREN
- KATY WARREN @ArtsHealthECRN.
@ArtsHealthECRN.

“I“I may
may have
have justjust seen
seen my
my best
best show
show @edfringe
@edfringe inin @heroinetheplay
@heroinetheplay Poignant
Poignant true
true story,
story, brilliantly
brilliantly scripted
scripted
and acted. Riveting depiction of rape survivor and heroine in US Army. Hard hitting, humorous,
and acted. Riveting depiction of rape survivor and heroine in US Army. Hard hitting, humorous, compelling. compelling.
Hats off
Hats off to
to the
the real
real Danna
Danna Davis!
Davis! Take
Take aa bow.”
bow.”
DAVID M,
- DAVID M,VETERAN
VETERAN

“Clever, well
“Clever, well written
written and
and amazing.
amazing. II was
was gripped
gripped from
from start
start to
to finish.
finish. (Mary
(Mary Jane)
Jane) deals
deals with
with aa dark
dark and
and
difficult subject with touches of lightness that only serve to emphasise her message.
difficult subject with touches of lightness that only serve to emphasise her message. An amazing An amazing
performance -- everyone
performance everyone needs
needs to
to see
see this.”
this.”

CHARLOTTE CRANGLE,
- CHARLOTTE CRANGLE, BARRISTER
BARRISTER (SPECIALISM
(SPECIALISM IN
IN SEXUAL
SEXUAL CRIMINOLOGY)
CRIMINOLOGY)

“One of
“One of the
the most
most moving,
moving, beautifully
beautifully written,
written, acted
acted and
and produced
produced plays
plays I've
I've ever
ever seen
seen at
at the
the Fringe.
Fringe.
Upsetting, stunning
Upsetting, stunning and
and important.”
important.”
GARYT,T, SOLDIER
- GARY SOLDIER

“Exceptional treatment
“Exceptional treatment of
of sexual
sexual violence,
violence, remarkable
remarkable performer.”
performer.”

JESS SOUTHGATE,
- JESS SOUTHGATE, PolicyManager
PolicyManager @agenda_alliance,and
@agenda_alliance,and @Clinks_Tweets@Womens_Breakout
@Clinks_Tweets@Womens_Breakout

“Utterly bowled
“Utterly bowled over
over by
by @heroinetheplay
@heroinetheplay today.
today. Angry,
Angry, compassionate
compassionate and
and technically
technically awesome.
awesome. An
An
astonishing unmissable
astonishing unmissable achievement…”
achievement…”
JO CLIFFORD,
- JO CLIFFORD, PLAYWRIGHT
PLAYWRIGHT

“If you
“If you see
see only
only one
one thing
thing in
in August,
August, Make
Make itit this.
this. Bring
Bring aa box
box of
of tissues
tissues with
with you.
you. You
You will
will laugh
laugh and
and you
you will
will
cry and learn what it means to forgive and love. (I’m going
cry and learn what it means to forgive and love. (I’m going twice).” twice).”
-- PAUL
PAUL HUDSON,
HUDSON, CAPITAL
CAPITALTHEATRES
THEATRES
“This play is a breathtaking and powerful account of one soldier’s experience of
sexual trauma in the Armed Forces. The account reflects across the Atlantic some of
the experiences of women who have been sexually assaulted or raped in the UK
military and reveals the appalling and impossible situation in which they find
themselves.”

Emma Norton
Director - The Centre of Military Justice, UK

"Beautifully produced and brilliantly acted, Heroine dives into the depths of important
and powerful issues in military life and brings them to the forefront for society at
large. This soldier's journey to war, through trauma, and back is a must see for
military, veterans, military families, and all of those who love, support, and hope to
understand them.”

Cpt. Chris Marvin

U.S. Army (retired), founder of Got Your 6 and Principal of Marvin Strategies

"Heroine provides a riveting, sorrowful, and deeply resonant account of one

woman’s struggles to cope with the lingering pain from her military service. The play
brilliantly dramatizes the immediate shock, subsequent confusion, and lasting
hardship associated with military sexual assault, post-traumatic stress, and loss. As
Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel subcommittee, I wish more
Members of Congress and Defense Department officials would watch and learn from
this show.”

Jackie Speier
Congresswoman

"Heroine was pitch-perfect in hitting the emotional notes of being a woman in the
military, simultaneously fighting sexism, homophobia, and the need to prove oneself.
Danna's harrowing journey to find a new normal in the aftermath of rape and loss, as
portrayed by the exceptional Wells, is excruciating but ultimately redemptive not only
for her but also for the audience."

Kayla Williams
U.S. Army veteran and author of “ I Love my Rifle more than You”

“Having worked with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault for
almost thirty years, (Danna’s) experiences told from your writing and acting are as
authentic as anything I have witnessed… Having borne witness to thousands of
hours listening and counselling survivors, both women and men, her voice through
you was like being there with them. That it had humor as well is true also… There
was not one inauthentic note in Heroine which elevates it beyond a play, perhaps to
an experiential dialogue between artist and audience.”

Anne Macdonald
Former Adviser to Survivor Scotland
Creative Team
WRITER-PERFORMER
Mary Jane Wells www.maryjanewells.org

DIRECTOR
Susan Worsfold www.susanworsfold.co.uk

PRODUCER
Sarah Gray www.scottishtheatreproducers.com

SOUND DESIGNER
Matt Padden www.mattpadden.com

LIGHTING DESIGNER
George Tarbuck
www.edinburghlightingandsoundschool.co.uk

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Corbellini Creative www.corbellinicreative.com

For further information, please visit

www.heroinetheplay.com
and contact hello@heroinetheplay.com
+44 7947 259868 and +1 310 736 4945

Booking Info
Booking Info
Target audience: 16+
Running time: 72 minutes (no interval)
Space requirement: Studio Theatre
Number in touring company: 4-5