Now in its 10th year, 24:7 has staged 157 plays and helped kick start the careers of 117 writers and over 500 creatives, with more than 30,000 tickets sold.
From the left: Noreen Kershaw (Director Coronation Street, Moving On. Actor Life On Mars), Kathryn Worthington (Festival Director) , Vicky Binns (Actor Coronation Street).
Image by Ian Hamilton
Vicky said: “I can’t wait to see what 24:7 has in store this year. Year upon year it opens the doors to Manchester’s creative talent, creating not only one of the most exciting showcases for new writing around, but also a wealth of opportunities for its participants that seem to spread way beyond the festival”
The festival’s alumni include Joe Sims, recently seen as Nige Carter in the phenomenally successful Broadchurch.
Joe said: “24:7 is a magnificent opportunity for actors, writers and directors alike to work on exciting pieces of new theatre in a wonderfully passionate city. As a performer the accolades I was fortunate enough to garner through my work at 24:7 has led to many more opportunities that I may not otherwise have been offered.”
“I am extremely privileged and proud to have been involved and will always be grateful to this extraordinary event and the unswerving commitment of the wonderful team that put it together.”
Further successes include Ian Townsend, now Writer Liaison for the festival, whose production All The Bens won the Audience Award in 2012. The play went on to be selected for the The Library Theatre’s re:play Festival and subsequently toured the North West, plus won both Best Fringe at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2012 and the Vicky Allen Equity Award.
In recent years, the festival has also attracted performances from established actors including Vicky Binns , now a Trustee of the festival, and Roberta Kerr (Coronation Street), and Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale).
This year’s 24:7 Theatre Festival will run from 19 to 26 July and continues its innovative use of non-theatrical spaces to showcase the performing, producing and directing talent of tomorrow.
This year’s plays are:
Away From Home by Rob Ward and Martin Jameson
Blunted by Alice Brockway
Bump by Laura Kate Barrow
Daylight Robbery by Micheal Jacob
My Space by Louise Monaghan
Night on the Field of Waterloo by Thomas Bloor
No Soft Option by Brian Marchbank
Temper by Richard O’Neill
For the under 12’s:
Billy, the Monster and ME! by Catherine Manford & Sarah Molyneux
Site specific theatre at Ancoats Fire Station:
Manchester’s Burning by Rebekah Harrison & Kurt Nikko
Devised work:
The Young by Faro Productions
The festival is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, and receives additional support from Manchester City Council and The Co-operative.
