Eilidh Nurse (she / her)
Eilidh is an emerging writer, originally from a small fishing town in rural Scotland and now based in London. Her first play was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, shortlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and won the Rose Theatre’s New Writing Festival. It was performed at Riverside Studios after winning the Originals Playwriting Award. Set at a struggling caravan park, the play explored relationships within a rural coastal community. She was recently shortlisted for the BOLD Playwright’s Award and previously has been selected for a HighTide Playwrights Academy and the Traverse Theatre’s Young Writer’s Programme.
Emma-Louise Howell (she / her)
Emma is an award-winning writer from East Anglia. Described as ‘bold, unflinching and impossible to ignore’, her first play Patterns won the Michael Ross Award from RADA and has since been shortlisted for the International Playwriting Prize and Women in Theatre Lab. In 2023, her professional debut, I Really Do Think This Will Change Your Life, was selected as a Mercury Theatre Original and taken to Edinburgh as one of Pleasance’s National Partnerships productions supported by ThickSkin where it was shortlisted for The Stage Innovation Award and Stagey Place Awards. Her other work has appeared across the UK including on BBC Introducing, Soho Theatre and the Arcola.
Jacob Ethan Tanner (he / him)
Jacob Ethan Tanner is an Actor, Writer and Director from Wales.
Upon graduating in 2023, he made his West-End debut in 'Backstairs Billy', at the Duke Of York's Theatre.
In 2025, his play 'Nurture' debuted at 'The Hope Theatre' in London; and his one-man Welsh play 'SHUNK' is currently longlisted for the 'Theatre503 International Playwriting Award 2024/25'. Jacob's short film 'I'm Not Awake and Neither Are You' was nominated for Best Film and Best Screenplay at the 'It's My Shout Awards 2025', and has just gained Official Selection at the BAFTA Cymru Qualifying 'Carmarthen Bay Film Festival 2025'.
Katie Walker-Cook (she / her)
Katie Walker-Cook is a writer and actor. Katie's work as a writer includes contributions to BBC Radio 4's political satire show "The Skewer" and BBC Radio Scotland’s "Breaking the News." Her playwriting has been performed at theatres including Theatre503 and the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. She also reviews theatre for the London Pub Theatre Magazine.
Lucy Heathcote (she / her)
Lucy Heathcote is a disabled writer, actor and dramaturg based in London. As a writer she has collaborated with the Bread & Roses Theatre, Cafe Canal Theatre, Full House theatre and ATYP. As an actor she has worked with companies such as Pathway Theatre, Golden Goose Theatre, Queensland Theatre and the ABC. She trained at the Queensland University of Technology (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting) and also holds an MA in Dramaturgy & Writing for Performance, from Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2022, she was nominated at the Matilda Awards for Best Emerging Artist.
Mackenzie Steed (she / her)
Mackenzie is thrilled to be part of the Pentabus Young Writers National Programme. A working-class emerging writer, actor, presenter, and director from Newport, Mackenzie is passionate about creating authentic work that reflects the world we live in. She has worked with companies including Sherman Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, It's My Shout, and Burnt Orange Theatre, and recently completed a six-month training course with Old Vic Theatre Makers. Mackenzie is currently developing her one-woman show That’s My Win! and is excited to continue growing her voice as a writer and theatre-maker with Pentabus.
Noor Sobka (she / her)
Noor is a Comedy Screen and Theatre writer. Noor's work centres around telling stories about people from the MENA region. Noor is a supported artist at Sheffield Theatres and has been a part of various programmes including Soho Theatre’s writing programme and The Old Vic Theatre Makers programme. Noor is also a trained Dramaturg and script reader.
Roisin Ann Bonar (she / her)
Roisin is a writer and actor from Cwm Gwendraeth in Carmarthenshire.
Her journey as a writer actually began after she was chosen to be a part of Pentabus Local Young Writers cohort 2023, and worked with the company to create her short play 'Blue Butterfly" which was performed as part of the 'Where do we go from here?' event.
Roisin has since been involved in collaborative theatre writing, in the medium of her native Welsh and English, with The Actor's Group Swansea, Y Cwmni and National Theatre Wales Collective.
Her most notable acting credit is playing ‘Tor’ on S4C’s series Anfamol.
Joanna Freeman (she/her) Pentabus Head of EngagementWe're delighted to be playing host to some of the best young writers across the UK for our National Young Writers course this year. We can't wait to see their work develop and their stories come to life, online, at the end of the year. This is such a unique opportunity for them to develop their practice, with support from digital arts specialists at Rural Media, and our Jerwood Writer in Residence, Liv Hennessy