After losing their regular funding, 24:7 Theatre Festival is delighted to announce that this year’s Big Festival Weekend 2015 will go ahead, thanks to strong support from Manchester’s theatre scene, past participants and audiences, Manchester City Council and Arts Council England. 

24:7 successfully ran a crowdfunding campaign to raise £2500 in match funding for their Arts Council bid, and with the support from almost 100 local and international pledgers raised £3200, with an additional £650 added via Gift Aid. 

The same week the charitable arts organisation received a conditional offer from the Arts Council and Manchester City Council to fund this year’s festival.

 David Slack, the Festival’s Exec Producer, says: July is already on the horizon, so these funds make it possible to finalise the play scripts for the Big Weekend, work on a site specific production and call out for short monologues to be performed around our Festival Hub. 

“In addition to the monetary support the team has been overwhelmed by the kind offers from Greater Manchester’s theatre scene. More than 30 theatre professionals have already offered their support by reading this year’s 73 script submissions, and providing feedback for each writer.”

 The final selection will be made by another new panel of readers, made up of some recognisable and high profile names: Julie Hesmondhalgh, fresh from Channel 4’s ‘Cucumber’, as well as award-winning playwrights Ian Kershaw, Charlotte Keatley and Deborah McAndrew are just some of the panel members, and each is excited about the process.

 24:7 2015 sees a slightly stripped down Festival after 10 successful years of presenting a week-long event at mainly non-theatre venues. 

This year there will be a Big Festival Weekend, taking place Friday 24th – Sunday 26th July in and around the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, part of the University of Manchester just off Oxford Road. There will be plays, workshops, monologues, and a family friendly
piece at Manchester Museum. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here