Applications Now Open For The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices

The sixth 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices will take place over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd October, culminating in the performance of seven completely original plays on The Old Vic's main stage on Sunday 23rd October at 7.30pm.

Applications for this adrenaline-fuelled event will open on Monday 1st August with applications available to download through Old Vic New Voices digital partner, IdeasTap: www.ideastap.com. Applications for this event will close on Friday 19th August at 5.00PM.

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices provides 50 young actors, writers, directors and producers, aged between 18-25, with the opportunity to prove their theatrical skill in front of 1,000 friends, family and industry VIPs, on The Old Vic's 193-year old stage.

Successful applicants are also offered membership of the New Voices Club - The Old Vic's professional development programme. Members enjoy workshops with industry luminaries, support for projects which they are passionate about, and access to a formidable creative network of like-minded peers.

Over 250 artists have now launched their careers on the back of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices including: Playwright Kenny Emson (2011 BBC Writersroom 10 winner) , actor Charlotte Mills (Jerusalem, West End & Broadway); director Simon Evans (Resident Assistant Director Donmar Warehouse) and producer, Amy Letman (Associate Producer, West Yorkshire Playhouse).

Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director of The Old Vic, said: "The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices is an incredibly powerful talent showcase, launching and supporting the careers of over 250 young practitioners to date. It has proven to be a terrific springboard for the best young artists, making it a project of which we are enormously proud."

The project is a sister event to The Old Vic's yearly fund-raiser, The 24 Hour Plays Celebrity Gala, which delights audiences and inspires everyone who takes part. The 2011 Gala, hosted by John Cleese included an array of much-loved industry names including Ronni Ancona, Kelly Brook, Natalie Dormer, Debbie Chazen, Richard Curtis, Niamh Cusack, Rupert Evens, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Hynes, Lesley Manville, Tim Pigott-Smith, Maggie Steed and Richard Wilson.

This year's event will take place on Sunday 13th November.

All proceeds from The 24 Hour Plays Celebrity Gala fund Old Vic New Voices (OVNV). Old Vic New Voices is the education, community and emerging talent department of The Old Vic which regularly works with thousands of school children, local people and emerging talent every year developing learning, creativity and networking opportunities.

Steve Winter, Director of Old Vic New Voices, said: "A quick flick through the list of our past alumni tells you why it's such an important project to be part of and why any ambitious young creative should apply."