Theatre company seeks support

Pentabus Theatre Company has started its 50th birthday year celebrations with a move to a new home at the recently refurbished Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

They plan to engage with an even wider audience in their new home and create new work for touring – producing newly-commissioned plays made with and for isolated rural communities with least engagement with the arts.

Their Pentabus Young Company programmes give opportunities for young people from rural areas, nationally as well as locally, to engage with theatre and creative writing, often for the first time.

Pentabus is now looking for 50 new businesses to donate a one-off contribution of £500 towards the company’s work.

This will enable them to continue to deliver their important creative offer to many more individuals. In recognition of the support they receive, they will acknowledge businesses in their printed play texts, which have both a local and national distribution.

They will also ensure businesses are credited with thanks online and in their programmes for shows, as well as on a wall of supporter fame which will be on display at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Supporting businesses will be invited to their 50th birthday events and receive a VIP invite to their touring show later in the year.

They are already working with local companies who are supporting their productions.

Tony Overs, financial director at Britpart, said: "As a successful international business based in rural Shropshire, BRITPART believes it is important to help support local community groups.

"As such we are very pleased to be able to provide sponsorship to Pentabus Theatre Company to assist their writing and performing initiatives with young people in the area. It is heartening to see the local and national recognition that Pentabus has received."

Jenny Powell. Base Architects’ business and planning executive, said: “I’ve been attending Pentabus productions since I was a child. Growing up in Shropshire, I have always loved the mix and variety of plays over the years. Culture and the arts are important to me because they feed my soul."