MANCHESTER'S 24:7 Theatre Festival has announced the plays selected for its 10th Anniversary celebrations this July, at a special event at 2022 NQ, attended by former Coronation street actress, Vicky Binns, who is now a trustee of the festival.

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.

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"

In recent years, the festival has also attracted performances from established actors including Vicky Binns, Roberta Kerr (also from Coronation Street) and Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale).

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, Roberta Kerr (also from Coronation Street) and Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale).

This year’s 24:7 Theatre Festival will run from 19 to 26 July and continues to use off-kilter, non-theatrical spaces to showcase the performing, producing and directing talent of tomorrow.

Ahead of the festival this July, Oldham Coliseum are staging a 'sneak peek' of the plays on Friday 17th May, as part of their First Break week. 

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 

Picture courtesy of Ian Hamilton