CoyWolf is a parallel universe fable that utilizes anthropomorphic animals featuring wolves, coyotes and the hybrid, coywolf, where the production’s title is derived from.

 

  The premise is an allegory of the struggle and validation of indigenous, specifically Metis culture and identity. The premise follows Isidor (Wolf), Sigil (James-Walker) and Gordon in various roles trying to survive a war between the humans over land rights and co-existing in an unformed nation consisting of various communities and settlements interspersed through a vast wilderness.

 

  For Wolf it was important to differentiate historical events and accuracy from the specific allegory and narrative choice he eventually chose. “I really wanted to be clear it’s Metis but quite clear it’s not the story. The story of Metis already exists, I wanted to look at parallels when we look at other genocides that are occurring or has occurred, we can see that reflection. I wanted to write something that it wouldn’t just be shelved as a Metis only play, it could be looked at any dispersed or oppressed or genocided people could see their people represented.”

 

  Since the production features anthropomorphic animals, Wolf revealed his decision on choosing the coywolf specifically. “Partially because I thought wolves, coyotes and coywolves are cool. I was looking into other half breed animals like the bison/cow hybrid that they’re doing in Alberta. I chose not to do that because it’s a human intervention. I can’t cite the specific article but there was one where the wolf breeds is actually a coywolf breed. That was kinda in the play, finding out that his mum is already a coywolf, his grandpa is a coywolf. And I wanted to do that because of the perception around one full, one not parent. I needed to have three different groups on the receiving end of this expansion but not able to deal with the human expansion in a direct way.”

 

  The original production featured the same actors with actor Gabrielle Dufrense debuting in the role of Sigil that James-Walker has now taken on.

 

  The first iteration also consisted of the same crew with Jensine Emeline doing costume design, Sam Fleming as lighting designer, Annie Johnsgaard doing set design and construction with Gagnon doing sound design and stage management.

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  The original crew consisted of Noran Paton as technical direction, Sarah German as tour manager, Rebecca Ballarin as administrative support, dramaturgy by Nathan Howe and Yvette Nolan with artistic support from Caleigh Crow, Michal Rolfe and Grahame Kent.

 

  This version adds Haley Verbonac doing graphic design and Jonathan Cestnick as production manager.

 

  Wolf revealed how this iteration differs slightly from the original production mounted in 2023. “There’s a character, Mutt, in the new edit that didn’t have a name before. He was just recruiter and there was no childhood relationship between the two characters. That was a big shift of making Mutt a lot more fleshed out character.”

 

  Wolf also humorously remarked omitting a scene where the character, Isidor had a gambling addiction. “A funny thing that changed there was a scene that changed where Isidor was struggling with a gambling addiction that a bunch of people assumed I had a gambling addiction.”