​RIOTACT began with my conviction that extraordinary theatre can be created anywhere, if the story is worth telling and the people behind it care enough to tell it well.​

 

After training in Stage Management and working in professional theatre, I went on to build a career around storytelling through writing, fiction editing, creative writing education and organising national literary conferences. Those experiences shaped not only how I approach theatre, but the kind of theatre company I wanted to create.

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RIOTACT brings together emerging talent, experienced practitioners and community performers to create theatre that challenges, entertains and moves its audiences. We are particularly drawn to familiar stories told from unexpected perspectives, exploring overlooked voices and considering what happens if we place those voices at the centre of the story.

 

That approach has already begun to define our work.

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In my adaptation of Gogol's Marriage for Red Wall Theatre, I shifted the focus towards Agatha, giving greater prominence to her choices and independence.

 

In RIOTACT's inaugural production, Blind Jack's Last Road, a story inspired by one of Yorkshire's most celebrated historical figures became, at its heart, a deeply human story of two sisters, love and sacrifice.

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Written and directed for the 2026 Knaresborough FEVA festival, Blind Jack's Last Road brought actors, singers and musicians together in an immersive production staged in an historic churchyard. Every performance sold out within two weeks of tickets going on sale and the production attracted positive press reviews.  And there's huge demand for us to bring the production back in 2027.

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But RIOTACT is about more than the productions we stage.

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It is my intention to create a company where experienced artists and emerging theatre-makers can work alongside one another, sharing knowledge, developing skills and learning through the practical experience of making theatre. From acting and directing to producing, design and stage management, I believe every aspect of theatre-making deserves artistic ambition and serious attention.

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That commitment is already taking shape through mentoring, collaboration and the growing community of practitioners who are contributing their talents and experience to RIOTACT.

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Our interest lies in original writing, contemporary drama and imaginative adaptations. Our productions may take us into a traditional theatre, a studio space or somewhere entirely unexpected. What matters is finding the right way to tell each story and giving it the care, imagination and attention it deserves.

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RIOTACT began with an idea, but it is fast becoming something much more collaborative, shaped by the people who bring their skills, creativity and commitment to our work.

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It is a home for artists and audiences. A place for new voices waiting to be heard and old stories that still deserve to be told.

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Welcome to RIOTACT​.

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Marie Henderson

Artistic Director