Take a trip through the history of humanity’s relationship with wolves in this powerful and magical exercise in storytelling. Performed by Dougie Mackay and Jemima Thewes, A Wolf Shall Devour The Sun delivers a show that feels more like sitting around a campfire, hearing tales from the distant past. In a softly lit room, the hour begins with the Norse myth of wolves causing Ragnarök, shifts to a Siberian tale of a child running away with these canids, and concludes with an Irish story of shapeshifting creatures who never forget kindness. A Wolf Shall Devour The Sun is as enchanting as it is educational, engaging audiences while exploring archetypes that cast wolves as villains in Western myths, and how these stories shape our perceptions.

Some tales challenge those preconceptions, revealing often untold stories of wolves helping humans and demonstrating kindness. Mackay’s charisma, voice and words vividly paint each scene, while Thewes uses puppetry, singing and sound to craft a fairytale-like atmosphere. Their perfectly timed delivery transports the audience into a dream-like state, and the final act returns to Scotland; not with myth, but with a real account of why this keystone species is missing. Mackay gently raises a question: in a time of ecological crisis, perhaps it’s time to repair society’s relationship with wolves. A kind, enchanting and compassionate love letter to a misunderstood animal. 

A Wolf Shall Devour The Sun, Scottish Storytelling Centre, until 25 August, 3.15pm; main picture: Marcin Maternik.