I saw this last year, and it really is a lot of fun. The premise is simple, give a bunch of talented writers, actors and directors 24 hours to come up with something, with a strong emphasis on fun! There are six short plays,  all vary in length and style, and it’s all done for the best of causes in Dublin Youth Theatre. Tickets are available via the Abbey’s web site here.

Full details of the impressive cast and crews are below. It reads like a who’s who in young Irish talent, and many of our favourites are on the list, including Domhnall Gleeson and Paul Reid.

There are just 12 days to go until the third annual outing of The 24 Hour Plays, a fundraiser for Dublin Youth Theatre which takes place at the Abbey Theatre on March 2nd at 7.30pm for one night only.

Over the course of one chaotic day, 6 playwrights will write 6 brand new short plays that will be cast, directed, rehearsed and performed on the Abbey stage with all participants giving their time and passion to the project for free. This celebration of theatre guarantees the best line up on any Irish stage in 2014.

Now in its third year, the guaranteed sell out will feature an array of Irish talent including musical accompaniment throughout the evening by songstress Camille O’Sullivan alongside performances from Domhnall Gleeson, Jay Duffy, Hilda Fay, Karen Ardiff and many more.

Cast:

Karen Ardiff ESB/Irish Times Best Actress Award / Steel Magnolias / Plaza Suite

Clare Barrett Best Female Performer Dublin Fringe Festival I ♥ Alice ♥ I / Break /

Fiona Bell An Enemy of the People / Pygmalion / Trainspotting

Bryan Burroughs Beowolf: The Blockbuster / Rough for Theatre I

Kelly Campbell Love/Hate / Mystic Knights / One Hundred Mornings

Jay Duffy Hollyoaks / Romeo and Juliet

Hilda Fay Fair City / Whistleblower / Threepenny Opera

Domhnall Gleeson About Time / Harry Potter / the Lieutenant of inishmore

Aaron Heffernan Love/Hate / The Threepenny Opera / Monster Clock

Ger Kelly Love/Hate / Confusion Boats / Alone It Stands

Laurence Kinlan Love/Hate / Ned Kelly / Playboy of the Western World

Lauren Larkin Love/Hate / History / Death of the Tradesmen

Louise Lewis The Churching of Happy Cullen / Druid Synge / Adam and Paul

Aoibheann McCaul Fair City / My name is Brian / Strike

Michelle McMahon Broadening

Kathy Rose O’Brien The Legend of Longwood / Alice in Funderland / Whistleblower /

Will O’Connell Game of Thrones / Macbeth / Peer Gynt

Barry O’Connor Fair City / HISTORY / Heroin / Noteworthy / A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Sam O’Mahony Vexed / 13 Steps Down / Fair City

Shane O’ Reilly Follow / Care

Paul Reid Raw / Man of Valour/ Philedelphia Here I Come! / Alice in Funderland

Michael Sheehan Fair City / Fight night / Alone It Stands / The Clinic

Jacinta Sheerin I’m not A.D.H.D, I’m B.O.L.D. / Waiting For IKEA

Ali White Closer / The House / Dancing at Lughnasa / No Tears

Directors:

Jim Culleton Award winning Artistic Director Fishamble – The New Play Company

Tom Creed Deep / Trade / Watt / Berlin Love Tour / Croí Briste / Mimic

Peter Daly Director of award winning Swing at Dublin Fringe Festival 2013

Maisie Lee In Dog Years I’m Dead, Artistic Director MIRARI Productions

Lynne Parker Award winning Artistic Director Rough Magic

Louise White Spirit of the Fringe 2013 (Dublin Fringe Festival) for Way Back Home.

Writers:

Mark Cantan – Jezebel / Tiny Plays for Ireland / Baptism of Hire

Ross Dungan – The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle / Minute After Midday / Fair City

Gavin Kostick – Irish Theatre Award Nominee 2014/Literary Officer Fishamble

Michelle Read – Tiny Plays for Ireland / Toxic / You Are Here / Play About My Dad

Abbie Spallen – Multi award winning playwright / Pumpgirl / Lally the Nyuck / The Tower

Carmel Winters – B is for Baby / Snap / Best Man

The 24 Hour Plays originated in New York in the mid-90s and is now an annual gala benefit on Broadway, as well as at the Old Vic in London, with performances in Chicago, Athens and around the world.

Title: The 24 Hour Plays

Date: March 2nd 2014 – Time: 19:30

Location: The Abbey Theatre / http://www.abbeytheatre.ie / +353 1 87 87 222

Tickets: From €30

www.dublinyouththeatre.com

www.24HourPlays.com