National Young Writers

Applications are open for National Young Writers 2025, a free online course delivered by Pentabus, the nation's rural touring theatre company, and award-winning production company Rural Media. Through collaborative and dynamic online learning, young writers explore how to write and produce brilliant short plays for digital platforms.

During the course, you will:

• take part in a 7 online evening workshops, and be offered a number of 1-2-1 sessions, led by experienced writers, directors and producers.
• explore how to construct characters, build scenes, create tension and write dialogue
• be supported to develop and write an original short script, and be given a budget to produce your work in a digital format
• film your work easily on your mobile phone and see it performed by professional actors.
• write 3 x 90 second, individual pieces, specifically for social media. (The 3 x pieces can be connected by an issue or theme or location)
• Be signposted, where possible, to further opportunities to develop your craft
• Be invited to a free Screen Writing Masterclass with Grant Black (Rural Media)

By the end of the course, you will have written and produced 3 short films that appeal to wide digital audiences and showcase your creativity. These films will be released across Pentabus' and Rural Media's digital platforms as part of a celebration of young people's writing in October 2025.

Former Pentabus Young Writers have gone on to Olivier Award nominations, and last year National Young Writers projects gained over 500,000 views on TikTok alone. Click here to watch last year's pieces.

 

Applicants

We are particularly interested in hearing from rural writers aged 18 - 30 from across the UK, and from people from backgrounds currently under-represented in the arts and cultural sector. The course is aimed at young people who may not even know they're writers yet and those who have some experience of writing.

Participant age: 18-30

When does the course run: April 2025 – September 2025 (6 months). You can download the course timetable below. 

Number of workshops: 7 workshops + production time outside of sessions

Where: Online (via Teams)

Cost: Free

 

How Do I Apply?

To apply, we need you to provide the following before the deadline of 10.00am on Monday 24th March:

• Your pronouns
• Your full name and date of birth
• Your contact details (address, phone number, e-mail)
• An overview of your writing experience
• What your connection is to the rural, and what 'rural' means to you
• An explanation of why you have applied for this course and what you hope to achieve from it
• Any access considerations you need us to know
• An example of your writing

You can submit your application online, by clicking on the links below:

• Application Form
• Equal Opportunities Form

Or, by e-mailing Joanna Freeman (projects@pentabus.co.uk) your application responses via one of the following:

• Video (3 mins max)
• Voicenote (3 mins max)
• A PowerPoint presentation (up to 10 slides / 100 words)

Please also ensure that you complete our online Equal Opportunities Form. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Joanna Freeman (Head of Engagement) on projects@pentabus.co.uk.