Harrogate community theatre group will return to Feva arts festival in Knaresborough

A Harrogate-based theatre group with a social edge is following up last year's sell-out show with a new production next week at Knaresborough’s Feva festival.

Founded in 2023 to focus on social-edged, lesser-known dramas in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, Red Wall Theatre is returning to Feva with Fighting Fascism: Knaresborough's Home Front.

A celebration in story and song of how Knaresborough as a town pulled together in the Second World War, the play was inspired by Knaresborough Heritage Centre’s exhibition The People's War – and 10% of net sales will be donated to the centre.

Director Jan Williams, whose original script was honed and toned by the company in early readings, said: “The play is not, of course, without its darker moments and music, videos and still projections add poignancy to these.”

Taking place on Monday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 19 at 7.30pm at COGS Centre on Gracious Street, the setting for Fighting Fascism: Knaresborough's Home Front is a church hall on May 10th 1945, just after VE Day, where a concert is about to start.

Hosted by a bossy WVS officer Marjorie Manley, a special guest has been invited, with Knaresborough on course to win the area championship flag for raising the most funds for the war effort.

But things don't go quite to plan when this motley crew of different characters get together.