diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 09c9b3ec..5dce5416 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,21 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 ### Changed
 ### Fixed
 
+## [0.5.3]
+
+### Added
+- Convenience function getter to call zome of a given cell.
+
+## [0.5.2]
+
+### Added
+- Conductor options to runScenario fn.
+
+## [0.5.1]
+
+### Added
+- Missing library files.
+
 ## [0.5.0]
 - Re-write Tryorama
 
@@ -19,8 +34,6 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 - Middleware
 - Conductor configuration
 - Implicit usage of `tape` as test harness
-### Changed
-### Fixed
 
 ## [0.4.10]
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f4485d43..8079a8a4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -219,6 +219,48 @@ const createEntryHash: EntryHash = await aliceHapps.cells[0].callZome({
 await conductor.shutDown();
 ```
 
+### Convenience function for Zome calls
+
+When testing a Zome, there are usually a lot of calls to the cell with this
+particular Zome. Specifying the Cell and the Zome name for every call is
+repetitive. It is therefore convenient to use a handle to a particular
+combination of Cell and Zome.
+
+Instead of
+
+```typescript
+const [aliceHapps] = await conductor.installAgentsHapps({
+  agentsDnas: [dnas],
+});
+const createEntryHash: EntryHash = await aliceHapps.cells[0].callZome({
+  zome_name: "crud",
+  fn_name: "create",
+  payload: entryContent,
+});
+const readEntryHash: string = await aliceHapps.cells[0].callZome({
+  zome_name: "crud",
+  fn_name: "read",
+  payload: createEntryHash,
+});
+```
+
+the shorthand access to the Zome can be called
+
+```typescript
+const [aliceHapps] = await conductor.installAgentsHapps({
+  agentsDnas: [dnas],
+});
+const aliceCrudZomeCall = getZomeCaller(aliceHapps.cells[0], "crud");
+const entryHeaderHash: HeaderHash = await crudZomeCall(
+  "create",
+  "test-entry"
+);
+const readEntryHash: string = await crudZomeCall(
+  "read",
+  entryHeaderHash
+);
+```
+
 ## Signals
 
 `Scenario.addPlayer` as well as `Conductor.installAgentsHapps` allow for an
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 57a83d3a..a0a007c5 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@holochain/tryorama",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.3",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@holochain/tryorama",
-      "version": "0.5.0",
+      "version": "0.5.3",
       "license": "CAL-1.0",
       "workspaces": [
         "crates/trycp_server/test"
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
         "@microsoft/api-extractor": "^7.24.2",
         "@msgpack/msgpack": "^2.7.2",
         "@types/lodash": "^4.14.182",
-        "@types/node": "^16.11.36",
         "@types/ramda": "^0.26.44",
         "@types/tape": "^4.13.2",
         "@types/tape-promise": "^4.0.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 018efde5..f79229c0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@holochain/tryorama",
   "description": "Toolset to manage Holochain conductors and facilitate running test scenarios",
-  "version": "0.5.2",
+  "version": "0.5.3",
   "author": "Holochain Foundation",
   "keywords": [
     "holochain",
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
   "license": "CAL-1.0",
   "type": "module",
   "engines": {
-    "node": "^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0"
+    "node": "^14.13.1 || >=16.0.0 || >=18.0.0"
   },
   "workspaces": [
     "crates/trycp_server/test"
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
   },
   "types": "./lib/index.d.ts",
   "files": [
-    "lib/"
+    "lib"
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "build": "rimraf ./lib && tsc -p tsconfig.build.json && npm run build:docs",
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
     "@microsoft/api-extractor": "^7.24.2",
     "@msgpack/msgpack": "^2.7.2",
     "@types/lodash": "^4.14.182",
-    "@types/node": "^16.11.36",
     "@types/ramda": "^0.26.44",
     "@types/tape": "^4.13.2",
     "@types/tape-promise": "^4.0.1",
@@ -77,4 +76,4 @@
     "ts-node": "^10.8.0",
     "typescript": "^4.7.2"
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ts/src/common.ts b/ts/src/common.ts
index f13c39cb..690296f0 100644
--- a/ts/src/common.ts
+++ b/ts/src/common.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ import {
   InstalledAppInfo,
   InstalledCell,
 } from "@holochain/client";
-import { AgentHapp, CellZomeCallRequest, IConductor } from "./types.js";
+import {
+  AgentHapp,
+  CallableCell,
+  CellZomeCallRequest,
+  IConductor,
+} from "./types.js";
 
 export const addAllAgentsToAllConductors = async (conductors: IConductor[]) => {
   await Promise.all(
@@ -80,3 +85,12 @@ const getCallableCell = (
     return callZomeResponse;
   },
 });
+
+export const getZomeCaller =
+  (cell: CallableCell, zomeName: string) =>
+  <T>(fnName: string, payload: unknown): Promise<T> =>
+    cell.callZome<T>({
+      zome_name: zomeName,
+      fn_name: fnName,
+      payload,
+    });
diff --git a/ts/src/local/conductor.ts b/ts/src/local/conductor.ts
index 2187f892..b4c3e48e 100644
--- a/ts/src/local/conductor.ts
+++ b/ts/src/local/conductor.ts
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ export class Conductor implements IConductor {
    *
    * @param options - An array of DNAs for each agent, resulting in a
    * 2-dimensional array, and a UID for the DNAs (optional).
-   * @returns An array with each agent's hApp.
+   * @returns An array with each agent's hApps.
    */
   async installAgentsHapps(options: {
     agentsDnas: DnaSource[][];
diff --git a/ts/test/local/conductor.ts b/ts/test/local/conductor.ts
index 60951f85..26378d68 100644
--- a/ts/test/local/conductor.ts
+++ b/ts/test/local/conductor.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import {
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import test from "tape-promise/tape.js";
 import { URL } from "node:url";
-import { addAllAgentsToAllConductors } from "../../src/common.js";
+import {
+  addAllAgentsToAllConductors,
+  getZomeCaller,
+} from "../../src/common.js";
 import {
   cleanAllConductors,
   createConductor,
@@ -15,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "../../src/index.js";
 import { pause } from "../../src/util.js";
 import { FIXTURE_DNA_URL, FIXTURE_HAPP_URL } from "../fixture/index.js";
+import { HeaderHash } from "@holochain/client";
 
 test("Local Conductor - Spawn a conductor with QUIC network", async (t) => {
   const conductor = await createConductor({
@@ -199,6 +203,26 @@ test("Local Conductor - Install and call a hApp bundle", async (t) => {
   await cleanAllConductors();
 });
 
+test("Local Conductor - Get a convenience function for zome calls", async (t) => {
+  const conductor = await createConductor();
+  const [aliceHapps] = await conductor.installAgentsHapps({
+    agentsDnas: [[{ path: FIXTURE_DNA_URL.pathname }]],
+  });
+  const crudZomeCall = getZomeCaller(aliceHapps.cells[0], "crud");
+  t.equal(typeof crudZomeCall, "function", "getZomeCaller returns a function");
+
+  const entryHeaderHash: HeaderHash = await crudZomeCall(
+    "create",
+    "test-entry"
+  );
+  const entryHeaderHashB64 = Buffer.from(entryHeaderHash).toString("base64");
+  t.equal(entryHeaderHash.length, 39, "HeaderHash is 39 bytes long");
+  t.ok(entryHeaderHashB64.startsWith("hCkk"), "HeaderHash starts with hCkk");
+
+  await conductor.shutDown();
+  await cleanAllConductors();
+});
+
 test("Local Conductor - Install multiple agents and DNAs and get access to agents and cells", async (t) => {
   const conductor = await createConductor();
   const [aliceHapps, bobHapps] = await conductor.installAgentsHapps({