Eight Young Writers from across the West Midlands & The Marchers will have their work professionally staged at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on 8 & 9 July. Tickets here.
Previous Young Writers have gone on to achieve Olivier award nominations, Royal Courtcommissions, award-winning Edinburgh Fringe shows, as well as writing for ITV, Film4 and BBC Radio 4.
Pentabus’ first ever Youth Theatre production with ensemble of 18 young performers. On 13 June.
Tickets here.
RAW – Pentabus Local Young Writers Showcase
‘Absolutely bloody brilliant! More of this please.’
– Maxine Peake
Each year, Pentabus’ Young Writers showcase takes on a new identity and this year, it’s RAW. A bold celebration of new writing, RAW brings together eight brand new plays by emerging writers from the West Midlands and The Marches, directed and performed by industry professionals.
This showcase is the culmination of the yearlong Local Young Writers programme, which has a strong track record of nurturing talent that goes on to award-winning careers, making this a rare chance to experience the next generation of playwrights at the very start of their journey; fresh, fearless and full of original perspective.
The programme features eight short plays by this year’s cohort which includes Charlotte Brimer, Eilidh Carver, Jenny Hill, Ilina Jha, Crystal Marshall, Ella Niblett, Andred Rhys and Daniel Shakespeare.
Crystal Marshall commented,
‘This is the first play I have ever written, and although I’m nervous about how it’s going to be received – I’m super excited to see how it resonates with people’. Daniel Shakespeare said ‘It’s so inspiring to see the incredible talent in the area, and a privilege to be counted amongst them. We’re going to put on a great show; probing, eclectic and exciting in a way only live theatre can be!’
whilst Andred Rhys stated that
‘Pentabus has been such a lovely, supportive environment to explore writing for theatre. I can’t wait to see audiences experience the worlds and stories we’ve created!’
Join us for a vibrant celebration of diverse local voices, exploring their unique perspectives on the world. Praise for previous showcases includes: ‘a must-see production’ (Voice Mag). Find out more about how we support new talent and how to get involved in future Pentabus Young Writers programmes here.
Wednesday 8 July | 7:30pm | Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Thursday 9 July | 7:30pm | Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Suitable for ages 12+.
Tickets £16, £8 concessions, with 10 free tickets available at every performance for U25s.
Booking and further information including content guidance: https://pentabus.co.uk/raw.
Tuesday – Pentabus Local Young Writers Showcase
For the first time ever, Pentabus Youth Theatre presents a public performance of Tuesday by Alison Carr, at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Saturday 13 June.
Tuesdays. They’re grey, beige, lame, boring. But this Tuesday was like no other. When parallel worlds collide and the sky is ripped in two, chaos ensues. Will the kids at Lane End School manage to put their differences aside to overcome this otherworldly phenomenon?
Tuesday is funny, playful and a little bit sci-fi. The show delves into themes of friendship, identity, loneliness and responsibility. Most importantly, it’s a play for anyone who’s ever had their lives turned upside down.
In this bold and experimental production, Pentabus is proud to showcase an 18-person cast which features some of Shropshire’s brightest young stars.
Pentabus Youth Theatre Co-Directors, Emma Morgan and Ella Niblett, have commented:
‘We are absolutely thrilled to present Pentabus’ first ever Youth Theatre production. A year of high-quality acting training has culminated in this show, and we have been so impressed by the talent on display from our young actors. Watching young people discover the magic of theatre in a rural space is so important and we’re incredibly honoured to be a part of that.
This production of Tuesday proves, without a doubt, that there is a wealth of young talent in Shropshire and we cannot wait for people to see the show.’
Tuesday was originally commissioned for the 2020 National Theatre Connections Festival, featuring plays written specifically for young performers. This is an amateur production by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.
Saturday 13 June | 4pm | Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Saturday 13 June | 7:30pm | Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Suitable for ages 9+.
Tickets £16, £8 concessions, with 10 free tickets available at every performance for U25s.
Booking and further information including content guidance: https://pentabus.co.uk/tuesday.
For more information contact Emma at press@pentabus.co.uk.
Emma Morgan
Pentabus Youth Theatre Co-Director
Emma is a director and playwright from Shropshire. In 2023 she established Eightball Productions, a multimedia theatre company making plays across Bristol, London, Edinburgh, and Birmingham. For her most recent work, Eightball was described as a ‘theatrical force to be reckoned with’ (Backstage Bristol, 2026).
Her recent credits include: REALITY TV (Ludlow Assembly Rooms / Bristol Old Vic / short film in progress), Scenes with girls by Miriam Battye (The Alma Theatre), FRUITCAKE (The Alma Theatre / The Tabard Theatre / Edinburgh Fringe), and Dance Nation by Clare Barron (Tobacco Factory Theatre).
Ella Niblett
Pentabus Youth Theatre Co-Director
Ella is an actor and director based in Liverpool and Shropshire. Having graduated from her Masters in Acting from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, she is excited to share her expertise as the Co-Director of Tuesday. Born and bred in Herefordshire and Shropshire, her favourite part of Co-directing PYT is encouraging young actors from rural towns such as Ludlow to pursue what they love and be proud of our rural spaces.
Ella is currently rehearsing for the original stage show Don’t Touch My Stuff (The Unity Theatre) and is also a current Local Young Writer with Pentabus.
Ibrahim Ibrahim
Movement Director for Tuesday
Ibrahim is a movement director creating physical work for new writing and devised theatre. He has worked with Royal Court Theatre; Birmingham Repertory Theatre; and Frantic Assembly. He is currently a movement tutor at Rose Bruford College and specialises in collaborative, ensemble-driven performance.
Prime Isaac
Director for RAW
Prime is black queer theatre director from West London, with over six years of experience in the industry as a Director, Assistant Director, Associate Director and Workshop Facilitator. They were nominated for ‘Best Director’ at the 2025 Black British theatre awards. They have worked at a number of theatres all around the UK including, The Old Vic, Hull Truck Theatre, Leeds Playhouse andWatford Palace. They are also a member of the Headlong Board. Prime is dedicated to presenting diverse and untold stories that inspire, challenge, and resonate with audiences.
Julia Samuels
Director for RAW
Julia is a freelance director/theatre-maker with 30 years of professional experience.
From 2006-21, she was Co-Artistic Director of award-winning Liverpool-based company 20 Stories High, making work through collaboration between artists and young people. In 2025/6, she was Artistic Director (Maternity Cover) at Theatre by the Lake, where she continues as a freelance Creative Associate.
20SH highlights include Buttercup (20SH/Tigerlily Films/BBC Arts); Touchy (20SH/Unity/Wellcome Collection – winning an Offie/OnComm award); “I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip…”, (20SH/Contact/BBC – the film version was selected for HotDocs Toronto); site-specific piece She’s Leaving Home (20SH/Phelim MacDermott/Culture Liverpool); and Tales from the Mp3(Everyman Liverpool, Summerhall & national tour).
Freelance work includes: Lucky Tonight! (Home, Traverse, community tour); 4 Dholis and a Divorce (Factory International/Home) Wind in the Willows (Shakespeare North Playhouse); and Martha, Me & My Family (Unity, Liverpool). She is currently developing new projects with Keith Saha and Theatre by the Lake, as well as continuing to work on Blue Boxes, her interdisciplinary project exploring Jewish Identity.
Julia also works as a creative consultant, she is a Board member of Heart of Glass (St Helens/Knowsley). Earlier in her career, she had roles at Theatre Royal Stratford East and the National Theatre.
Jessie Addinall
Lighting Designer for RAW and Tuesday
Jessie is a theatrical lighting designer from Hull. Their training is rooted in years of hands-on experience as a technician and theatre maker. They were an ALPD Lumiere (2020).
Some of their credits include:
And Then Come The Nightjars (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds), Children of the Night (Mad Friday Productions), Oliver Twist (Hull Truck Theatre), Don’t Look Now (The New Wolsey & Salisbury Playhouse), Di and Viv and Rose (Theatre by The Lake & Queens Theatre Hornchurch), Unfiltered (Pentabus), Steel (Theatre by The Lake), Hospital Doors (Next Door But One), Bitch Boxer (Watford Palace Theatre), The Borrowers (Hull Truck Theatre), GUTS! The Musical (Hull Truck Theatre), Baby He Loves You (Middle Child), La Scala di Seta (RNCM), Snowmen (The Herd), Pinocchio (Hull Truck), These Majestic Creatures (Stephen Joseph Theatre), We Could All Be Perfect (Sheffield Theatres), MODEST (Middle Child & Milk Presents), Brief Encounter (The New Wolsey & Salisbury Playhouse), , Ladies Day (The New Vic & The Octagon Theatre), Ladies Unleashed (Hull Truck Theatre), The Whispering Jungle (Concrete Youth), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hull Truck Theatre), Teechers Leavers 22’ (Hull Truck Theatre), we used to be closer than this (Middle Child), Ducklings (The Herd), Beauty Queen of Leenane (Hull Truck Theatre & Queens Theatre), The Canary and The Crow (Middle Child), Us Against Whatever (Middle Child)
Associate Credits Include:
The Crucible (The Gaiety Theatre), Animal Farm (The Octagon), Sanctuary (Red Ladder), Dogs (Liverpool Playhouse), 71 Coltman Street (Hull Truck Theatre), Megalith (Mechanimal), Shedding a Skin (SOHO Theatre).
Ellie Light
Set Designer for RAW and Tuesday
Ellie is a designer and maker for theatre and the arts. She trained at LIPA and is based in Liverpool. Her design credits include:
Lieutenant of Inishmore, Top Girls and Cherry Jezebel (Liverpool’s Everyman). Scouse Christmas Carol, Speedo Mick: The Musical, Scouse Red Riding Hood and Haunted Scouse (Liverpool’s Royal Court). 8 Hours There and Back (All Things Considered); Silverwood (RNCM); Light Falls (Grosvenor East Theatre, MMU); Beyond Caring (Durham Gala Theatre); Of All The Beautiful Things In The World (HOME Manchester); A Very Odd Birthday Party (Hawkseed Theatre/UK Tour) and Dogs (New Step Theatre/Playhouse)
About Pentabus
‘One of British theatre’s unsung treasures.’
– The Guardian
Pentabus is the nation’s rural theatre company, based in Shropshire. We are the only rural touring company that is committed to producing new work and tours to communities across the UK and beyond.
Described as ‘one of the most important theatre companies in the country’ (The Daily Telegraph), our work unites communities and young people, bringing outstanding contemporary productions with sector leading creative teams directly to isolated rural communities, as well as platforming rural stories in urban settings.
Our work has spanned five decades, and in that time we’ve produced over 329 new plays, supported 258 new playwrights and reached over a million audience members. We’ve won awards and created lasting relationships with artists, venues and audiences across the country, and were the first to live stream from a village hall.
We excel at finding and nurturing new talent and have hosted Writers in Residences since 2014. These playwrights have gone on to be commissioned by the Birmingham Rep, Bristol
Old Vic, Hampstead Theatre, HighTide, Manchester Royal Exchange, Nottingham Playhouse, Royal Court, The Bush, and the National Theatre. We champion people of all ages to explore their creativity with particular emphasis on creating pathways into careers in the creative industries for those underrepresented, and people who live rurally under 30. Pentabus Young Company is our initiative offering playwriting workshops in schools, further and higher education, work experience and mentorships. As well as the opportunity to join our Young Writers’ Programme, which celebrates its 11th year, and has catapulted many writers into careers in the arts, with recent graduate credits including Radio 4, BBC One, and Bristol Old Vic, as well as Tinniswood and Olivier Award nominations. As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we also launched Pentabus’ first Youth Theatre.
