REVIEW: WYLD WOMAN - THE LEGEND OF SHY GIRL @ SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE BOROUGH

🎭 Wyld Woman - The Legend of Shy Girl

📍  The Small, Southwark Playhouse , 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

🗓 Saturday 1st November 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE WYLDEST THERAPY SESSION EVER!

As a theatre fan, I love it when a production makes you feel like more than just a passive observer, and WYLD WOMAN - THE LEGEND OF SHY GIRL does that with a delicious pink-tinged flair.

From the moment you step into the Southwark Playhouse's intimate 'Little' space, you're not just at a show - you're at a party. And with some of the audience seated right at the birthday table on the stage, the fourth wall is not so much broken as it gleefully, glittery-ly shattered.

Written and performed by the phenomenally talented Isabel Renner, this one-woman show draws you directly into the wonderfully chaotic mind of the titular Shy Girl.

I was trying to work out how she seemed reletively calm and open when talking to the audience considering her shyness, and then it was revealed. We were her imaginary friends!

Not just imaginary friends, but we are her confidants and witnesses to her mission to transform from anxious introvert to a 'wyld woman'. We are all drawn into her inner monologue of overthinking and awkward encounters, and it's a testament to Renner's magnetic and vulnerable performance that we are all so willing to go along for the ride.

We are given name badges on entry which allows Renner to use our names and refer to us as if she has known us for a long time. Indeed we are all creations of her imagination.

The writing is sharp, funny, and at times, beautifully poignant. Renner's hilarious characterisations - from the unhinged therapist (who is secretly her six-year-old babysitting client) to her obnoxious French restaurant boss - are an absolute joy to watch.

Director Cameron King expertly uses the set to create a dynamic, multi-location whirlwind, ensuring the fast-paced comedy never loses momentum. One moment we are in a New York apartment, the next we are treated to a "blowjob ballet" and a trip to the gynaecologist's office - and it's all performed with perfectly executed, raunchy aplomb.

The immersive element, while fun, could benefit from a little more follow-through beyond the initial setup and personal acknowledgements. Sometimes the sheer variety of characters means the central voice gets a little lost in the noise. But these are minor quibbles in what is an outstanding and wonderfully entertaining piece of theatre. It's a show that will have you laughing your heart out and maybe, just maybe, shedding a little tear for the lonliness at its core.

This is a show for anyone who has ever felt too shy, too weird, or just too much. It's relatable, heartfelt, and ultimately, triumphany journey of self discovery.

WYLD WOMAN - THE LEGEND OF SHY GIRL continues performances at Southwark Playhouse until Saturday 15th November, Click here to book your tickets, and to get wyld!

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Wyld Woman - The Legend of Shy Girl was gifted by Southwark Playhouse who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY:

Isabel Renner

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 5 minutes, with no interval

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