Pentabus are a company that has been featured on this site numerous times before with their work such as The Silence And The Noise and Driftwood, as well as the news of 2024 where with ArtFlicks people can watch videos from this company on TikTok. Penatbus are a company known for championing new British writing and for 2025, they have a team of associate artists – four new faces and one returning – who will continue to champion this company’s work and support it in finding new talent in the year ahead! The team are now comprised of Katie Elin-Salt, Sophie Ellerby, Naeem Hayat, Tom Powell and Anoushka Warden.
Here is a bit more on each of these associate artists, and what they think about joining Pentabus in 2025…
Katie Elin-Salt – an actor, writer, a previous facilitator and mentor for Penatbus’ Local Young Writers Group, and now one of the associate artists for Pentabus; regarding joining the team, Katie has said, “I’m delighted to have been asked to be an Associate for Pentabus. As someone from a working-class background, who grew up with limited access to theatre and opportunities within the arts, I know first-hand the value of theatre and organisations like Pentabus. I’m hugely inspired by companies and artists who reach beyond just what is expected of them and their audiences – and I’m very excited about finding and nurturing stories and talents for and from a wider scope of experiences and perspectives.”
Sophie Ellerby – a writer and former Clive Richards Foundation Writer-in-Residence, who spent 2018 with
the company, Sophie is now rejoining Pentabus, this time as an associate. About rejoining Pentabus, Sophie has said “After a year as Writer-In-Residence back in 2018, it’s an honour to be asked to return to Pentabus as an Associate Artist. Investment in rural arts and culture is more important now than ever before, as a tool to spark discussion and impact positive change. I look forward to contributing to the important work the company does in bringing some of the best Rural Theatre to the UK.”
Naeem Hayat – an actor, the director of SEEN – the 2024 Local Young Writers showcase, and now an associate artist for Pentabus, Naeem says “I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant team at Pentabus. It feels a real privilege and important to continue working alongside a company that so tirelessly keeps story and community at its heart.”
Tom Powell – a former CRF Writer-in-Residence, and writer of The Silence And The Noise which Pentabus co-produced a digital version of with Rural Media, which won Best Film at the Broadstairs International Film Festival and Best Online Production at the Off West End Awards. About joining the company now as an associate artist, Tom has said, “From being a Clive Richards Foundation Writer-in-Residence in 2020/21, working with Pentabus Young Writers, and creating the award-winning digital production of The Silence and the Noise, many of my best experiences working in theatre have been with Pentabus. They make important and thrilling work, and I’m delighted join as an Associate.”
These four join Anoushka Warden who stays on as an associate artist for her third year running, whose digital play Toed was produced by Pentabus itself. This team of five altogether will no doubt bring a rich and diverse selection of skills and perspectives to Pentabus and with the team all building on an existing relationship they have with the company, their combined forces are sure to make 2025 an exciting year for Pentabus indeed.
The associates will work throughout the year to support Pentabus’ artistic programme, champion the company’s work, and help it find exciting new talent – a value at the very core of Pentabus and the work it creates. Furthermore, these associates are joining Pentabus in a year when they host their first Jerwood Writer-in-Residence, the Olivier-nominated Liv Hennessey (Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial), and tour Driftwood, written by former Writer-in-Residence Tim Foley, on a UK tour in an upscaled production after a successful rural tour in 2023 (co-produced with ThickSkin). Pentabus recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and toured Make Good: The Post Office Musical, which played sold-out dates across the country (co-produced with New Perspectives).
Elle While, the artistic director for Pentabus has shared her thoughts on the new associate artists team for 2025, commenting “It is an honour to welcome these exceptional artists and humans to be part of the creative hive-mind of Pentabus. We are so grateful to them for the care and invaluable contributions they have all already made to the company and look forward to their inquisitive and ambitious contributions helping to shape the future output and opportunities from our small but mighty organisation.”
With all this being said, it seems 2025 is to be a busy and eventful year for the company, and with Pentabus’ history of unique, thought-provoking and creative work, I for one certainly look forward to seeing what they do this year!
One Show at a Time 