BACKGROUND

Mission Statement

We seek to encourage and celebrate new and original work by writers, performers, directors and technical specialists. We seek to create opportunities for creative talent in all these roles. We seek to provide and promote accessible theatre for all.

Overview

The fifth annual 24:7 Theatre Festival will run this summer from 21 -27 July, presenting performances of new plays in a variety of non-theatre venues in Manchester.

24:7 uses non-theatre venues in Manchester city centre, including the Midland Hotel, which ties in with repertory theatre pioneer Annie Horniman's connections in the area and Manchester City Council's "original-modern" marketing concept. Taking into account feedback from previous festivals, we favour venues which provide the best possible infrastructure in terms of technical and audience services, including the ability to shield the performing areas, as far as possible, from invasive noise and matching each play with the most appropriate venue.

Up to 31 January, writers and performing companies, particularly in the Greater Manchester region, were invited to submit new or previously unpublished scripts of up to 60 minutes in length. The adjudicators - who aren't told the names of the writers - look for pieces they consider to be engaging, innovative and vibrant. Adjudicators' comments are fed back to all of the submitting writers to help them in the development of their piece.

A shortlist of scripts was selected to participate in the festival and their writers invited to form production companies. 24:7 provides networking opportunities for writers to recruit essential personnel: producer, director, designer, actor, technician, etc. Over the last four years this has proved particularly effective for writers who had no previous experience of working with a company. Continuing guidance is given as required to assist the development from page to stage.

Each participating company is allocated five varied slots of 90 minutes each during festival week, giving time to set up, perform, and leave the space again.
Manchester Evening News website