A unique Manchester theatre festival that offers a ‘magnificent opportunity’ for aspiring actors has announced this year’s selected plays for its highly anticipated 10th anniversary.
The 24:7 festival, founded in 2004 to rival Edinburgh, revealed this year’s scripts at a special anniversary celebration at 2022NQ.
Now in its 10th year, and set to take place between July 19-26, 24:7 has staged 157 plays and helped kick start the careers of 117 writers, selling more than 30,000 tickets in the process.
Festival Director Kathryn Worthington said: “The Ballyhoo was such a good start to our tenth year – celebrating some of our previous participants’ successes as well as presenting the new line up for 2013 and our new brand.
“There was a fantastic buzz and I’m looking forward to July even more now.”
The festival is known for its innovative use of non-theatrical spaces to showcase the performing, producing and directing talent of tomorrow.
Eleven plays have so far been announced, with specific work selected for the under-12s, while one play even takes place in Ancoats Fire Station.
Kathryn added: “The Festival is always about promoting talent and offering opportunity, so in a year when we’re adding new elements to the programme such as devised and site specific pieces it’s important to look back and recognize that it does work.”
The festival also boasts a rich alumni of established actors, with Joe Sims – recently seen playing the character of Nige Carter in the successful ITV drama Broadchurch – among them.
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.”
The festival has also attracted performances from actors who have gone on to feature in some of the nation’s best-loved soaps.
These include Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain in Emmerdale, and Vicky Binns, who played Molly in Coronation Street and Ollie Reynolds in Emmerdale.
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.”
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
Image courtesy of ITV Player, with thanks.
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