Through a series of in-person and online workshops, young writers are guided and supported by experienced scriptwriters and a professional director to develop a new short script. Learning and working collaboratively throughout the course, these scripts are brought to life with help from a professional creative team and ultimately performed by professional actors as part of our annual Young Writers Festival in July.
No previous experience of playwriting is necessary as this programme is aimed at young people who may not even know they’re writers yet, as well as those who have some experience of writing.
To apply, applicants must:
- Be aged 18 – 30
- Live within a reasonable commute from Ludlow in Shropshire (Pentabus HQ)
- Be ready to engage proactively in a learning opportunity
- Have a real interest in developing scriptwriting skills
- Be willing to explore a collaborative approach to developing new work
Throughout the course you will:
- Explore how to develop characters, build scenes, create tension and write dialogue
- Meet a collaborative cohort of likeminded people
- Be supported to develop your own creative ideas for your play
- Get to know a professional team of creatives and join rehearsal room sessions
- Learn how to incorporate design, sound and music into your play
- Be invited to attend a performance of your work with the other Young Writers
- Evaluate and reflect on your experience of the programme
- Be signposted to further networks and opportunities
What's the time commitment?
There are a mixture of in-person and online sessions, spread out across 6 months.
You can view and download the 2026 course schedule here: SCHEDULE
Who are the course leaders?
Pentabus Young Writers courses are led by professional writers, dramaturgs and award-winning directors.
Our 2026 course will be led by Ant Stones, a Director, Writer and Producer from Hereford in the West Midlands. He is a graduate of the Birkbeck MFA in Theatre Directing and The Royal Court’s Young Writer’s Programme. He is the former Associate Playwright for Guildford Shakespeare Company. In 2025 he set up Lost Cause, a new theatre company to champion unheard voices in the Midlands.
How Do I Apply?
To apply for a place, please complete the short application form below and return it to Joanna Freeman (Head of Engagement) on joanna@pentabus.co.uk by 9.00am on Monday 5th January 2026.
You will be asked to share:
- Your name, age and contact details
- Why you have applied and what ‘rural’ means to you
- A sample of your playwrighting (1-10 pages max)
Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.
Access and Inclusivity
Access and inclusion are at the heart of all of Pentabus’ work.
We are committed to making rural theatre accessible and inclusive, and to telling stories that resonate with our diverse rural and urban audiences nationwide. We seek to work collaboratively and with care across a range of training and learning environments, with bespoke access solutions provided and best practice safeguarding underpinning all of our programmes.
We particularly encourage applications for our Local Young Writers 2025 course from people living with a disability, D/deaf people, and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as these groups are currently under-represented in the cultural sector.