What if Ophelia got to tell her own story? Meet Heather Wallen of The Roving Peregrine Theatre Company, the writer behind “Rue,” playing Strange Birds as part of the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival on Friday, October 2 at 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM, and Sunday, October 4 at 4:00 PM.
Woven from Shakespeare’s own words but built to give voice to a character too often dismissed, this piece is about rage, autonomy, and second chances. We caught up with Heather ahead of opening to talk about Hamlet, Ophelia, and one very ambitious wet dress — read on below.
In your own words, what is your show about?
It’s about what second chances really mean, and what it means to stand in a moment and get to express yourself in ways that you never thought you would get to. It’s about female autonomy and rage. It’s about exploring a character that is so easily dismissed.
What sparked this piece?
I have always wanted to write a verse play, and though this isn’t one, it was inspired by the desire. Instead I wove Shakespeare’s words into a script that plays with intention and meaning in his words to give a voice to a character much like his Ophelia.
What does “Fringe” mean to you as an artist?
It means a chance to take a risk, a chance to share a show with a new audience, and give them something they may not be able to see anywhere else. An audience willing to take chances on new and experimental work.
What do you want someone to feel — or think about differently — after seeing your show?
I want them to continue the conversation into the car. I like the car conversations — “Did you catch this cool thing they did there?” “What do you think the ending means?” I like giving the audience enough of the story, but not too much that they can’t explore it more later.
What’s been the hardest or most surprising part of making this?
The wet dress. I had this vision, and it’s taken a lot of test runs, but I think we finally got it down to a science.
Anything else you want people to know before they walk in?
You don’t need to know anything about Hamlet or the Ophelia character to engage with this story.
“Rue” plays Strange Birds on Friday, October 2 at 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM, and Sunday, October 4 at 4:00 PM as part of the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival. You can purchase tickets here. Thank you to Heather for sharing — we can’t wait for you to see it.
