Hop on a minibus road trip down memory lane with playwright Finley-Rose Townsend, travelling from Derby to Matlock and back again, sharing stories of bus journeys past and present, on Saturday 18 April, 10am – 4pm.
We’re looking for:
- Bus passengers who take local routes
- Bus drivers (past, present, or nearly retired)
- Everyone with stories of missed stops, favourite seats, the people you meet, places you pass through, arguments with the timetable, the bell dinging for your stop, and unexpected delays. We’re seeking a mix of ages and life experiences.
This workshop is a scenic detour, with time for conversation, music, memories and a proper packed lunch included. Up to 14 participants are invited to be the backseat drivers and help shape Golden Ticket, a new play questioning who sets the route and exploring community, human error, delays, detours and how automation is changing our lives.
What’s happening?
- Depart 10am from Derby Theatre
(up to 2 local pick-ups on way) - Travel to Matlock with music and conversation
- Free packed lunch (dietary needs catered for) in Matlock, sharing stories of memorable journeys
- Return to Derby by 4pm
(up to 2 local drop-offs on way)
Travel and access bursaries are available.
Please note that the vehicle does not have wheelchair access. If this affects you, please contact info@fifthword.co.uk and we will be happy to discuss other ways that you can engage with this project.
Why join?
Help shape Golden Ticket, a new play, exploring:
- Community and connection
- Human error, delays and detours: stepping out of the everyday
- Automation: and how it’s changing our lives
- Gain insight into writing a new play, and writing processes
Expect conversation, camaraderie, and the radical act of choosing a different route. Led by professional, DBS-checked artists experienced in community engagement. Golden Ticket is a new Pop-Up Play commissioned by Fifth Word and Curve, and this research and development is proudly supported by Derby Theatre.
Ready to get involved?
Register your interest here by Tuesday 31 March 2026.
All places will be confirmed by Thursday 2 April 2026.
Up to 14 places are available. Anyone not selected will have other opportunities to connect with the project and Fifth Word / Derby Theatre.
More Information
About Finley-Rose Townsend
Finley-Rose is a creative practitioner based in the East Midlands.
Whether it’s playwriting, directing, or producing, community is the central theme in all of Fin’s work. Fin has worked as a facilitator and director at the Birmingham REP and Birmingham Hippodrome, including as one of the REP’s directors in training for their prestigious Foundry programme. Over the years, Fin has contributed to a variety of productions across the Midlands, taking on assistant director roles for both small- and large-scale projects.
While producing for BEFESTIVAL, Fin discovered a passion for European theatre praxis, a key influence on her writing style. Today, she co-runs Literati Arts, a Leicester-based poetry organisation, where she curates live poetry events and community projects. Fin’s short story, Constellations of Early Motherhood, was published in Things Left Unsaid, an anthology by Motherhood Uncensored earlier this year.
