Pentabus Announce New Artistic Director Elle While

The Pentabus Board of trustees are pleased to announce the appointment of Elle While as the new Artistic Director of the company. Elle will succeed Sophie Motley who, after four years, leaves in February 2021 to become the Artistic Director of The Everyman in Cork. 

Elle grew up in rural Herefordshire and has recently moved back to Hereford. She is an Associate Artist at Shakespeare’s Globe, where she directed The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It and Hamlet. She was also the revival director for the West End production (Gielgud 2015-17), UK and international tour of the award-winning production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Her most recent directing work includes Private Peaceful at Nottingham Playhouse, which was postponed due to the pandemic and Blue Stockings at Storyhouse Chester. She developed and directed the award-winning production of Glory Dazed which played at Edinburgh and Adelaide festivals before transferring to the Soho Theatre. She has worked prolifically as an associate and assistant director with directors including Lucy Bailey, Marianne Elliott, Nancy Meckler, Ian Rickson, Thea Sharrock and Alex Timbers in the West End and at the RSC, The Old Vic, the National Theatre and the Young Vic. Elle trained at Birkbeck University on their MFA Theatre Directing course.  

Pentabus Chair, Ros Robins said: ‘The Board of Pentabus is delighted to announce the appointment of Elle While as Artistic Director of Pentabus.  Elle comes with a strong pedigree of directing plays in theatres across the UK and with a commitment to developing work with some of the country's leading playwrights. She will continue the company's recent tradition of employing highly talented female Artistic Directors and we are confident she will build on Sophie Motley's legacy and the achievements of Pentabus over nearly 50 years as the country's rural theatre company - telling stories of the countryside in towns and villages across the UK.’

Elle While said: 'I am delighted to be joining Pentabus, working with the fantastic team to take the company into its next chapter at this extraordinary time.  As a child growing up in rural Herefordshire Pentabus was the theatre company that made me realise that theatre really is for everyone. I am so excited for the future of the company and look forward to collaborating with some of the country's leading artists to bring world-class theatre experiences to communities throughout the UK.'