Pentabus and Rural Media are looking for their next cohort of young playwrights. Applications have just opened for the 2026 National Young Writers programme. If you are aged between 18 and 30 and want to try your hand at scriptwriting, this free eight-month online course is well worth your attention.
For those looking to skip the background and get straight to the logistics, scroll down to the ‘How to Apply’ section at the foot of the page.
Trading the Stage for the Screen
The QR keeps a close eye on Pentabus. They routinely do the heavy lifting when it comes to bringing high-quality new writing into rural communities. London (and Edinburgh every August) often dominate the theatrical conversation, so companies committed to developing regional talent matter. We thoroughly enjoyed their digital production of The Silence & the Noise. In fact, if you want to see Tom Powell’s Papatango Prize-winning play on stage, a live co-production is running at London’s Park Theatre this winter from 25 November to 12 December.
This 2026 writers’ programme, however, trades physical boards for your phone screen. The brief tasks participants with creating three 90-second micro-plays specifically designed for social media. Writers will film these shorts on mobile phones, with professional actors performing the scripts. The organisers suggest the three pieces could connect via a shared theme, issue, or location.
Let’s not pretend otherwise: writing for social media is difficult. You have a minute and a half before a viewer swipes away. There is zero room for self-indulgent exposition. You have to establish character, introduce conflict, and hit a resolution at breakneck speed. It’s a short story on steroids.
The Nuts and Bolts of Production
The course runs entirely online. Through seven evening workshops and several one-to-one sessions, industry professionals will break down the mechanics of scriptwriting. They cover the essentials: constructing characters, building scenes, generating tension, and writing convincing dialogue.
Crucially, the organisers are not just looking for the finished article. The scheme explicitly welcomes young people who might not even realise they are writers yet, alongside those who already have a few scripts sitting on a hard drive.
It also pushes writers to think like producers. Participants will learn how to budget and plan a digital shoot. Expanding that skill set can feel intimidating, but past participants suggest it pays off.
‘When the content of the project was first introduced, I thought “I am just a writer; how am I going to be able to also film, budget, cast, and edit my film?”’ said one 2025 National Young Writer. ‘But it has been a career-changing experience for me to expand my craft, and I was so well supported by the Pentabus and Rural Media team. I would recommend this project to any creative who wants to explore an array of aspects in the filmmaking process.’
Getting Eyes on the Work
Making the work is only half the battle. Getting anyone to watch it is the real headache for new creatives. Previous National Young Writer projects have racked up over a million views on TikTok. Their alumni have a habit of doing well, picking up Olivier Award nominations, joining BBC New Voices, and returning as Pentabus Writers in Residence.
The final micro-plays from this 2026 intake will be released across both Pentabus’ and Rural Media’s digital platforms between April and July 2027.
Breaking into the creative industries right now is a notoriously expensive grind. Traditional routes often hide behind steep tuition fees, unpaid internships, or knowing the right people. A free, online course run by companies with skin in the game is just the sort of practical help early-career creatives need.
Pentabus brings five decades of rural touring and script development to the partnership. Rural Media operates as a digital arts charity with a solid track record of broadcast campaigns, including work for Channel 4 and the BBC. Both organisations are actively looking to hear from rural writers across the UK, and from those whose backgrounds remain under-represented in the arts sector.
How to Apply
Applications for the National Young Writers programme are open now.
- Participant Age: 18–30.
- Course Dates: September 2026 – March 2027 (8 months).
- Format: Six workshops, plus one-to-one sessions and production/planning time.
- Location: Online (via Microsoft Teams).
- Cost: Free.
- Application Deadline: 10:00 am on Monday, 13 July 2026.
Prospective writers can find full application details and submit via the Pentabus National Young Writers portal. Alternatively, you can email Connor Elliman, the Engagement Lead, directly at connor@pentabus.co.uk.
Featured Image: Pentabus Rural Media ArtFlicks Image 2025
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