The £10,000 bursary will support a professional playwright in the early stage of their career, providing the opportunity for the recipient to spend up to a year at Pentabus’ base in South Shropshire. During their time with Pentabus, the recipient will be given the opportunity to write at least one new full length play or piece of theatre, whilst learning more about how a professional theatre company works.

Pentabus was a recipient of the Channel Four Writer in Residence Bursary for three years in a row, an unprecedented achievement. In 2018, we were awarded a grant from the Clive & Sylvia Richards Charity to continue to support a Writer In Residence Bursary for two years. The first recipient of this Bursary was Sophie Ellerby, who will finish her year as Writer in Residence in September 2019. She says:

'This is an incredible opportunity if you are in need of time and space to develop your writing. There is a saying, ‘write what you know’, while this is a great place to start, there comes a point when the stories needed to be told exceed your own experience. The residency has afforded me the time to THINK BIG.  This bursary is a chance for you to challenge yourself and feel supported in the process. Apply now!' 

Full details can be found in the documents below.

How to Apply:

Fill in an application form, and send it to scripts@pentabus.co.uk with the title CSRC WRITER IN RESIDENCE BURSARY in the email.

You MUST include with your application:

• Your completed application form.
• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
• A copy of a full length play that you’ve written. Ideally we’d like to read plays that have had a professional reading or production.  NB This play will not be read unless you are longlisted. Please provide details of the production or reading with the play.
• A current writer’s CV or Biog.

Applications must be in by Wednesday 1 May at 10am

Longlisted candidates will be informed by mid May.

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Friday 7 June.

We will meet with eight potential candidates on Wed 12 and Thu 13 June with a view to making a decision by 14 June 2019.

If you'd like to have an informal chat with someone about the Bursary, then do call our office on 01584 856564.