CityLife

24:7 Theatre Festival is here

FROM humble beginnings in 2004, the inspiring 24:7 Theatre Festival has rapidly grown to become this country's premiere showcase for new playwriting talent. The MEN Theatre Award-winning event has already presented 76 new plays by 72 writers, all in non-traditional venues. Several of these productions have gone on to be re-presented in such venues as the Library Theatre, as part of their Re:Play season, and Bolton Octagon, as well as picking up major awards, such as our own Theatre Awards.

It is, in short, one of the most exciting and eagerly-anticipated events of the theatrical year. This year's festival opens on Monday and runs until Sunday July 27, featuring 16new short plays involving 16 writers, 16 directors, 65 actors and 35 crew members.

With the addition of the festival team and volunteer staff, that means that more than 200 24:7ers are working together to bring this festival to you.

As ever, all the performances will take place in non-theatre venues in Manchester city centre, including the Midland Hotel, Pure in The Printworks and music store Zavvi in the Arndale.

Organisers Amanda Hennessy and David Slack reckon that "more than 11,000 audience membershave enjoyed 24:7 performances so far. And this year, we hope to increase that number by at least 5000. 24:7 is Manchester at its best," they enthuse, "innovating, developing and presenting an original and modern way to look at theatre. We sound excited because we are! This year's portfolio of premières is our best collection yet of new, fresh, intriguing and compelling 60-minute shows.

Take the chance to see work by these writers while you can still get a ticket. We guarantee that in the near future, writers and plays that had their first outing at 24:7 will become nationally renowned."

24:7 Theatre Festival, Various venues, various times. Go to 247theatrefestival.co.uk for a full line-up.