Immersive show in dark of historic Knaresborough church yard will showcase new theatre company
An “unforgettable” new production will premiere at Feva festival in Knaresborough in a sneak preview of an exciting new era for local theatre.
Running from Monday, August 17 to Thursday, August 19 at 9.30pm, Blind Jack's Last Road is billed as an “immersive ghost story inspired by Knaresborough's legendary road builder".
Feva (Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts) itself is packed with great events over the course of nearly two weeks from August 14-23.
But this brand new show has, in particular, two exceptional attributes – the setting and the team behind it
Created especially for FEVA 2026, this atmospheric production will transform St John's Churchyard into a living stage.
Ideal for lovers of ghost stories, history and immersive theatre, this unique outdoor event will offer the chance to experience one of Knaresborough's most evocative locations after dark.
Along the way, audience members will encounter lost souls, hidden stories and echoes from the past before discovering the truth behind Blind Jack's final road.
The new show is the first public stirrings of a new theatre company called Riot Act which aims to create professional standard theatre in the heart of Harrogate and Knaresborough.
It may only be at the start of its journey but it already has pedigree, partly through the former involvement of two of its mainstays in Harrogate’s Red Wall Community Theatre, as well as the Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival.
For the moment, the company consists of two professional actors, including James Reilly, well known locally for an array of past performances such as in 122 Love Stories at Harrogate Theatre.
The writer and producer is Marie Henderson, Riot Act’s founder and artistic director who has worked in various theatres in London, as both a director and stage manager.
The remaining cast consists of Emily Alderson, Joel Dean, Toby Holbrey, Gary Philpott, Ray Black, Kaye Cook, and Katherine McGolpin
The production assistant is Izzy Trigoso, the youngest member of the fledgling team and a trustee for Harrogate Theatre who works with a large number of different local arts groups.
Blind Jack's Last Road may be the first visible signs of the talented people involved in Riot Act but it seems unlikely to be the last.
Tickets: feva.info/events/blind-jacks-last-road.