Pentabus Theatre

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Pentabus is the nation's rural theatre. The Pentabus Experiment or Concept as it was originally known was formed in 1973.

The company originally toured new work to five counties in the West Midlands. The work in those early years played in wide variety of venues including village halls, schools, pubs and numerous outdoor locations. As time went on the company extended their reach to include national and international projects and began eliciting the attention of the national press and collecting awards. In the recent times Pentabus Theatre has continued to pioneer engaging, surprising and provocative new work. Our output can only be categorised by its variety of approach, scale of ambition and determination to connect directly with people and place. It is always the product of collaboration with writers, artists and companies that inspire us

31/10/2026

Best of luck to the company ahead of their final performance of 2026 tonight at Quatt Village Hall, Shropshire.

Fancy joining us? Grab the remaining tickets here: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher/ -tickets

Can’t make it tonight? Birdcatcher will be back on tour from January 2027 👀

📸 Andrew Billington

30/10/2026

🎃 Halloween weekend is upon us – what better time to experience Laura Waldren’s darkly comic play for its final dates of the year!

📍 Tonight: Cosy Hall, Shropshire
📍 Tomorrow: Quatt Village-Hall, Shropshire

These are your last chances to catch it before we return for our spring tour in 2027. Don’t miss out!

🎟️ Book your tickets now: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher/ -tickets

30/10/2026

Less than a week to go. 🎭
The Silence and The Noise opens at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury next Wednesday.

Tom Powell’s Papatango Prize-winning play has travelled from audio to film - and now, for the first time, it’s coming to the stage.

★★★★★ “A modest masterpiece.” The Stage
★★★★ “A delicate love story [of] tenderness and tragedy.” The Guardian

📍 Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury | 4–6 Nov
📍 Bristol Old Vic Studio | 10–14 Nov
📍 Minerva Theatre, Chichester | 17–21 Nov
📍 Park Theatre, London | 25 Nov–12 Dec
🎟️ Book your tickets: papatango.co.uk/the-silence-and-the-noise/

📸 Rich Lakos Photography

28/10/2026

★★★★★ “A modest masterpiece” - The Stage

★★★★ “A delicate love story [of] tenderness and tragedy” - The Guardian

Can two teenagers change their destinies? Tom Powell’s Papatango Prize-winning play is a story of sharp edges, tenderness, charm and hope.

📍 Canterbury | 4–6 Nov

📍 Bristol Old Vic | 10–14 Nov

📍 Chichester Festival Theatre | 17–21 Nov

📍 Park Theatre London | 25 Nov–12 Dec

🎟️ Book now: papatango.co.uk/the-silence-and-the-noise/

28/10/2026

Tonight, we’re bringing Lucy Waldren’s brilliant new play Birdcatcher to All Stretton Village Hall, Shropshire, and we’d love to see you there!

🎟️ Book your tickets now: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher

26/10/2026

A new week means new venues on our tour of Laura Waldren’s brilliant new play .

Catch us at the following venues in Shropshire and join the audiences who have already experienced this ‘absolutely stunning production’ ✨

📍Wed 28 Oct: All Stretton Village Hall
📍Thu 29 Oct: Oswestry Memorial Hall
📍Fri 30 Oct: Cosy Hall
📍Sat 31 Oct: Quatt Village-Hall

Remaining tickets available here: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher/

24/10/2026

‘An absolute tour de force’ 💥

Audiences are loving Birdcatcher by Laura Waldren and Lucy Mangan’s performance as Eliza, who’s navigating adolescence and possibly the end of the world…

Our tour continues tonight at Tideswell Theatre in the Peak District before we head to four venues across Shropshire next week.

Find a venue near you and book tickets now: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher/

📸 Andrew Billington

19/10/2026

Our Birdcatcher tour has officially started and audiences are already calling it 'an absolute tour de force' and 'absolutely mind-blowing'!

Check out the production images from our sold-out run at Middle Child, Hull then come and experience it yourself. We're visiting six venues across Yorkshire, the Peak District and Shropshire over the next two weeks.

Find a venue near you and book now: https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on/birdcatcher/

Cast: Lucy Mangan
Writer: Laura Waldren
Director: Elle While
Designer (Set & Costume): Amy Jane Cook
Lighting Designer: Jessie Addinall
Sound Designer: Helen Skiera
Movement Director: Asha Jennings-Grant
Access Consultant: Samuel Brewer
Casting Director: Emma Sylvester
Production Manager: Dave Beaver
Stage Manager: Chloe Danielle Robson
Production Electrics: Stage Circuit

A Pentabus production in association with Papatango Theatre Company and Middle Child Theatre.

📸 Andrew Billington

09/10/2026

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: BIRDCATCHER

Step inside the world of Birdcatcher with Set & Costume Designer Amy Jane Cook.

Amy takes us behind the design of the show, from the first ideas and references to creating the strange, tightly controlled world Eliza has grown up in.

Take a peek at how the world of Birdcatcher is taking shape before it hits the stage this October.

🎟️ Birdcatcher by Laura Waldren, directed by Elle While. Touring this autumn.

A Pentabus production in association with Papatango Theatre Company and Middle Child.

Address

1 Mill Street
Ludlow
SY81AZ

Telephone

+441584856564

Website

http://www.pentabus.co.uk/

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