Review: Woman Seeking Cuddles

📍 Stephenson Theatre, theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall

🗓️ 18th August 2026

🎟️ PR Invite

Written by Ron McAslan, Woman Seeking Cuddles is a 50-minute play following the life of Harper after she unknowingly sleeps with her sperm-donor father, and life is never quite the same following that. Harper copes with the trauma and discomfort by having sex with numerous men - it’s messy, raw and at times really humorous.

Stepping into the theatre space, Hannah Strauss (as Harper) is sitting on the stage in relative darkness, already setting the mood for the performance we are about to see. I was intrigued to find out where this play would go and I was not disappointed. It’s a journey I can only describe as messy, raw and at times quite uncomfortable.

The premise for the show itself is an interesting one and definitely unique. McAslan’s writing pulls you into the story and really hooks you in there as you follow this journey with Harper. As deep and raw as the story is, there’s a lot of comedy mixed in there which keeps it balanced and never quite feels too heavy. From kinks to dating apps to uncomfortable and dangerous situations she finds herself in, there’s a lot to unpack here over the 50-minute duration of the play.

I was hooked by the extremely well-written text throughout the piece, and this was elevated further by Hannah’s performance. The way she captured the mental struggle her character was dealing with was really well executed. She completely embodied her character and delivered a performance that was filled with fear, loneliness and, despite her body yearning to be physically active, her brain and heart just wanting safety and comfort. Her ability to tell a story in an engaging yet vulnerable way elevated the performance further. She’s such a natural storyteller that you can’t help but get drawn into the story she is telling - she handles the shift from humour to darker moments so well. The shame and self-loathing Harper feels throughout the journey are really clear to see through Hannah’s performance.

The lighting added a lot to this performance - changes in mood were reflected and supported by the lighting. The theatre is incredibly intimate, which works well for a performance like this. 

Messy, raw and surprisingly funny, Woman Seeking Cuddles is certainly a unique play.  It’s not always an easy watch, but Hannah’s performance makes Harper’s journey incredibly engaging and there are moments of real humour and warmth throughout.

Woman Seeking Cuddles continues its run at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall until 22nd August at 20:45.