Paula and Kate’s story began on stage in Byrne and Hirsts' wonderful play, The Incident Room, at Ilkley Playhouse. Set around the investigation of the Yorkshire Ripper this gritty drama delves into the complexities of the case, exploring the psychological impacts on both detectives and civilians. They were both drawn to its' challenging themes and recognised the unique opportunity it gave for a local story to be told within the heart of the community it affected; They were equally overwhelmed when family and friends of those whose lives these events changed came to watch.

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During rehearsals their shared vision quickly became evident as they entered into long conversations about the wealth of talent in the North, the incredible stories that go untold and the potential of theatre to provoke thought and bring about change. Their passion for telling culturally relevant stories was clear and in recognising their complementary skills the next step seemed inevitable, they had to set up their own production company, start small, work hard and dream big.

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And so Rise & Howl is here and we set out a with a dedication to tackle bold narratives, give a voice to stories untold and produce culturally significant works. Our mission is that our projects do not simply entertain but also engage, resonate and spark conversations that increase empathy and understanding in our society.