24:7 Theatre Festival at various venues 20th – 26th July

Discover the best in new writing for theatre at this year's 24:7 Theatre Festival.

Manchester is blessed with a number of nationally celebrated theatres, from the stately Royal Exchange through to the vibrant Contact Theatre. But did you know it is also some to a thriving fringe theatre scene? If not, it's time to explore 24:7.

Over the last few years 24:7 has emerged as a testing ground for the city's greatest new writing talent. Previous shows such as A Dog Called Redemption and Mind The Gap have gone on to win MEN Theatre Awards for Best New Play or tour across the region.

This year, 21 plays have been chosen from over 160 submissions. Each play will be performed 6 times over the course of the week at either 12:30pm, 6pm, 7:30pm or 9pm at one of 5 venues, meaning that you're sure to find a performance to fit with your schedule – and with everything from dark explorations of the human need for solitude through to absurdist comedies about chairs, you're sure to find something you fancy.

For more details about the shows on offer, visit www.247theatrefestival.co.uk