24:7 Theatre Festival returns to New Century House

For the past decade, the 24:7 Theatre Festival has been bringing boxfresh fringe theatre to the heart of Manchester. To celebrate its 10th birthday in 2014, the week-long festival will – aptly – be presenting 10 new plays showcasing unknown writing and acting talent, comprising a shortlist that has been whittled down over a number of months by a panel of industry readers. These shows cover a broad range of topics and themes, from domestic dram (Three Women) to folklore (The Tongue Twister), all presented across three stages at New Century House – the former Co-op building – to carry on the festival’s now-established tradition of using unconventional spaces for performance. 24:7 exists for many reasons: to foster new talent, to attract established talent (Robert Powell and Sue Jenkins number among its patrons), to encourage new writing and to act as a window for those looking for careers in theatre production. But, most importantly, it exists for one reason: to put on a damn good show.

Fri 18 – Fri 25 Jul, New Century House, Corporation Street, M60 4ES, Times vary, £8 (£6 conc), www.247theatrefestival.co.uk