Our Story

Pentabus founded by Sue Dunderdale following a feasibility study into the lack of professional theatre in rural communities across the five counties of the West Midlands. The first project was called The Pentabus Experiment.  

Pentabus toured extensively across the West Midlands with a core creative team including Sue Dunderdale, Alun Bond, Alan Rivett and Jonathan Cross.  

Pentabus moved to the old schoolhouse on a farm estate in Bromfield, near Ludlow. 

New Artistic Directors Steve Johnstone and Purvin. Productions from this era included Vaughan the Terrible, Against the Wind and Lobo Wolf.  

Theresa Heskins became Artistic Director.

Silent Engine by Julian Garner — won a Scotsman Fringe First Award  

Strawberry Fields by Alecky Blythe — recognised as an early example of verbatim theatre.

Orla O’Loughlin succeeded Heskins as Artistic Director, bringing a focus on “people and place” with productions such as Origins, Tales of the Country and For Once.

White Open Spaces — won a South Bank Show Award 

Elizabeth Freestone became Artistic Director, expanding Pentabus nationally and launching the Young Writers initiative for rural young people. Productions included Milked, This Land and Here I Belong.  

Sophie Motley became Artistic Director  – Crossings, Wolves Are Coming For You, and The Tale of Little Bevan 

New Artistic Director Elle While  – Recent credits include Make Good, Driftwood, and One Of Them Ones.

Celebrated 50th Anniversary, and moved to Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Pentabus founded by Sue Dunderdale following a feasibility study into the lack of professional theatre in rural communities across the five counties of the West Midlands. The first project was called The Pentabus Experiment.  

Pentabus toured extensively across the West Midlands with a core creative team including Sue Dunderdale, Alun Bond, Alan Rivett and Jonathan Cross.  

Pentabus moved to the old schoolhouse on a farm estate in Bromfield, near Ludlow. 

New Artistic Directors Steve Johnstone and Purvin. Productions from this era included Vaughan the Terrible, Against the Wind and Lobo Wolf.  

Theresa Heskins became Artistic Director.

Silent Engine by Julian Garner — won a Scotsman Fringe First Award  

Strawberry Fields by Alecky Blythe — recognised as an early example of verbatim theatre.

Orla O’Loughlin succeeded Heskins as Artistic Director, bringing a focus on “people and place” with productions such as Origins, Tales of the Country and For Once.

White Open Spaces — won a South Bank Show Award 

Elizabeth Freestone became Artistic Director, expanding Pentabus nationally and launching the Young Writers initiative for rural young people. Productions included Milked, This Land and Here I Belong.  

Sophie Motley became Artistic Director  – Crossings, Wolves Are Coming For You, and The Tale of Little Bevan 

New Artistic Director Elle While  – Recent credits include Make Good, Driftwood, and One Of Them Ones.

Celebrated 50th Anniversary, and moved to Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Pentabus founded by Sue Dunderdale following a feasibility study into the lack of professional theatre in rural communities across the five counties of the West Midlands. The first project was called The Pentabus Experiment.  

Pentabus toured extensively across the West Midlands with a core creative team including Sue Dunderdale, Alun Bond, Alan Rivett and Jonathan Cross.  

Pentabus moved to the old schoolhouse on a farm estate in Bromfield, near Ludlow. 

New Artistic Directors Steve Johnstone and Purvin. Productions from this era included Vaughan the Terrible, Against the Wind and Lobo Wolf.  

Theresa Heskins became Artistic Director.

Silent Engine by Julian Garner — won a Scotsman Fringe First Award  

Strawberry Fields by Alecky Blythe — recognised as an early example of verbatim theatre.

Orla O’Loughlin succeeded Heskins as Artistic Director, bringing a focus on “people and place” with productions such as Origins, Tales of the Country and For Once.

White Open Spaces — won a South Bank Show Award 

Elizabeth Freestone became Artistic Director, expanding Pentabus nationally and launching the Young Writers initiative for rural young people. Productions included Milked, This Land and Here I Belong.  

Sophie Motley became Artistic Director  – Crossings, Wolves Are Coming For You, and The Tale of Little Bevan 

New Artistic Director Elle While  – Recent credits include Make Good, Driftwood, and One Of Them Ones.

Celebrated 50th Anniversary, and moved to Ludlow Assembly Rooms