Eight early-career writers from across England, Scotland, and Wales have been named as this year’s National Young Writers by Pentabus, the UK’s leading rural theatre company. The announcement marks the tenth edition of a scheme that has, over the past decade, established itself as a launchpad for award-winning and boundary-pushing talent from rural communities.
Here at The Quinntessential Review, we’re big fans of Pentabus and what they represent. We’d have spread this news earlier, but for a bout of flu which knocked the editor out of action for a week or more.
The 2025 cohort brings together playwrights, dramaturgs, and performers from Newport, Carmarthenshire, Norfolk, and the Scottish coast, each already making waves across stage, screen, and digital platforms. All eight will work closely with Pentabus and Hereford-based production company Rural Media to develop short plays for release online in autumn 2025.
The programme offers selected writers a year of workshops, masterclasses, and mentoring, culminating in digital premieres hosted on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Last year’s National Young Writers projects, released on Rural Media’s ArtFlicks channel, have already amassed over half a million views on TikTok alone.
A Rural Platform With National and Digital Reach
Founded in Shropshire in the 1970s, Pentabus has long been known for amplifying rural stories and bringing new writing into village halls and urban theatres alike. The company has produced over 300 new plays in its history, supported 120 playwrights, and reached more than half a million audience members, earning a reputation as what The Guardian once (and rightly) called “one of British theatre’s unsung treasures.”
The National Young Writers Programme was established to extend that mission, offering a pathway for emerging writers from rural and underrepresented backgrounds to develop new work and reach wider audiences. Over ten years, it has produced a steady stream of graduates now appearing on major stages and national broadcasts.
Liv Hennessy, an Olivier Award nominee for Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial and a former programme graduate, now returns as a mentor. Other alumni have gone on to nominations for the prestigious Tinniswood Award, commissions with the Bush, the Royal Court, and National Theatre Wales, and writing credits on BBC and ITV dramas.
Meet the 2025 Writers: Diverse Talent From Across the UK
“We’re delighted to be playing host to some of the best young writers across the UK,” said Joanna Freeman, Pentabus’s Head of Engagement. “This is a unique opportunity to develop their practice, with support from digital arts specialists at Rural Media and our Jerwood Writer in Residence, Liv Hennessy.”
Artistic Director Elle While emphasised the strength of the 2025 intake: “It has been such a pleasure to read the work of our newest cohort. From the variety and strength of their voices, I am sure they will soon be joining the brilliant success stories of our graduates, gaining recognition and acclaim across the sector and beyond.”
“We’re delighted to be playing host to some of the best young writers across the UK,” said Joanna Freeman, Pentabus’s Head of Engagement.
The 2025 selection reflects a wide artistic and geographical span. Among the new writers is Róisín Ann Bonar, who began her journey with Pentabus’s Local Young Writers programme and is known for her bilingual Welsh and English work. She is joined by Jacob Ethan Tanner, a Welsh actor and writer with recent West End credits and several projects already making the rounds on festival and award circuits.
Also included is Lucy Heathcote, a disabled writer, dramaturg, and actor whose practice spans the UK and Australia, and East Anglian playwright Emma-Louise Howell, whose debut play won the Michael Ross Award from RADA. Scottish writer Eilidh Nurse, who grew up in a small fishing town, has been recognised by Theatre503, HighTide, and the Women’s Prize for Playwriting.
Completing the line-up are Noor Sobka, a comedy and theatre writer focusing on MENA stories, Mackenzie Steed, a working-class emerging writer from Newport, and Katie Walker-Cook, whose work spans BBC Radio 4 satire and live performance.
Championing Rural Talent in a Digital Age
Speaking about her selection, Bonar said, “Pentabus gave me my very first chance to develop as a writer, so to be coming back as part of the National Young Writers feels incredibly special. There’s a real sense of community here, and I’m excited to learn and collaborate with the rest of this brilliant group.”
While rooted in rurality, the National Young Writers Programme is increasingly digital in its reach and delivery. The partnership with Rural Media’s ArtFlicks allows playwrights to create short-form pieces designed specifically for online audiences, reaching far beyond the traditional theatre space.
“Pentabus gave me my very first chance to develop as a writer, so to be coming back as part of the National Young Writers feels incredibly special.”
Róisín Ann Bonar
Last year’s cohort saw their work reach hundreds of thousands of viewers online, offering emerging artists an audience unimaginable in most studio theatres. For a generation of writers coming of age in a digital-first landscape, the opportunity to craft stories for both local and virtual communities is a crucial development.
Pentabus’s Ongoing Legacy and Future Plans
“The shift toward digital platforms has opened up huge creative possibilities,” said Freeman. “It allows these writers not just to tell rural stories, but to tell them on a national, even international, stage.”
Pentabus has spent five decades creating new work that connects rural communities to national conversations. It was the first theatre company in the UK to live stream from a village hall, and it continues to lead in developing rural talent for both local and urban audiences. Its alumni include writers now commissioned by major companies including the Royal Court, Manchester Royal Exchange, Hampstead Theatre, and the National Theatre.
“Championing rural voices has always been at the heart of what Pentabus does,” said While. “This programme ensures that the next generation of playwrights has the support and visibility they need to make their mark.”
The eight selected writers will work with mentors and industry professionals over the coming months, with their final works set for public release in October 2025 on ArtFlicks’ TikTok and other channels.
For Pentabus, the announcement is another step in a much larger commitment: reshaping whose stories are seen and heard in the UK’s creative industries. As While put it, “We are continually inspired by the talent and energy coming out of rural communities, and we are proud to help provide a platform where these voices can thrive.”
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