Pentabus Theatre are a theatre company who I have previously featured on this website, reviewing their play-turned-short film The Silence and the Noise, and the play Driftwood. Both of these plays were online for audiences to watch for free; not only did this promote new British talent – something which I believe we can never have enough of – but also that entertainment doesn’t have to be inaccessible by needing audiences to pay, nor travel if they are not able to. Pentabus Theatre have joined up with Rural Media and continues this theme of new British talent and accessible entertainment, now announcing their release of The Pentabus National Young Writers ArtFlicks Projects.
This project showcases 6 young writers, who have created 3 short videos, running at just 90 seconds per video, which will then be released on the ArtFlicks TikTok channel. Meaning now, audiences have an excuse to go onto TikTok – you’ll actually be supporting the next generation of rural writing talent!
These videos will be released across the next 4 weeks on Rural Media’s ArtFlick’s TikTok page with 9 videos already live for people to watch – Trespasses I, II and III by Daniel Grimston, Boxes by Izzie Harding-Perrot, and She, Them and It by Jacob Kay. Trespasses explores queer awakening in nature; Boxes looks at falling in love and opening you up to someone…which can already be complicated enough, let alone when there is also magic thrown into the mix, and then she, Them and It is a modern cosmic horror.
Following these, the schedule presents a diverse range of videos, all exploring various themes and stories. The diversity in content therefore means there is something for everyone, and with the short run time and them all being free to watch on one of the currently most popular apps…is there a way to make entertainment any more accessible than this?
Already these projects have had nearly 500,000 views on TikTok, and Pentabus and Rural’s previous co-productions have been very successful; both the digital plays The Silence and the Noise and Destiny were finalists for Best Online Production 2024 in the Off West End Awards – for which The Silence and the Noise then actually went on to win! Driftwood is now nominated for this very same award, further showcasing that Pentabus Theatre is a company making a name for itself by producing work that is deeply thought-provoking and commendable. Rural Media, with whom Penatbus have paired up with for this project, are a production company and charity with a reputation for telling stories from voices that may otherwise have gone unheard.
Both companies’ work and values can absolutely be seen in the ArtFlicks projects, and with all their previous success seen so far, it seems the ArtFlicks project is set up to be one that is worth watching. Following the videos already live, each National Young Writer’s first piece will be released on the Wednesday of their week, their second on the Thursday, and their third on Friday. At the time when this blogpost goes live, the next 3 videos will be released on the week of the 23rd of September – with the next video being released on the 25th of September.
With each video only being 90 seconds, I think this is a really clever and creative way to get writers to show the full extent of their skills. To tell a story that matters, in any capacity, is not easy. To do so in such a short time frame is even harder. Yet these new young writers have taken this challenge and ran with it to create some unique, imaginative and fantastic work. With such short videos, that means you can already have watched one, just whilst you wait for the kettle to boil for your morning coffee!
Once all the videos are live, I may even be so bold as to share my thoughts on each of them! But given there is already some live and more to be released, I shall allow everyone to watch and enjoy them as each new video airs first. So, what are you waiting for? Consider this a fine excuse to pick up your phone and head on over to TikTok and see what this new generation of rural writing talent has in store for you.
You can visit the ArtFlicks TikTok channel and watch the videos here: https://www.tiktok.com/@art_flicks
You can find out more about Pentabus Theatre here: https://pentabus.co.uk/
You can find out more about Rural Media here: https://www.ruralmedia.co.uk/
One Show at a Time 
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