Film program

24 Hour Party People

A crowd is gathered in a busy club.
  • Cinema
  • Vivid LIVE
  • Playhouse
  • Run time: 117 minutes Subject to change
  • Seating map

A fourth-wall smashing deep dive into the idiosyncratic history of Manchester music

United Kingdom l 2002 l English l Musical/Comedy | MA15+

Michael Winterbottom's iconoclastic drama-comedy charts the course of Manchester's music scene from the 1970s to early 1990s, fronted by a gleefully anarchic performance by Steve Coogan.

Manchester, 1976: Cambridge educated Tony Wilson, a Granada TV Presenter, is at a Sex Pistols gig. Inspired by this pivotal moment in music history, he and his friends set up a record label, Factory Records, and proceed to sign a number of bands destined to be some of the most influential artists of their time. First, Joy Division, who go on to become New Order; then come the Happy Mondays.

What ensues is a tale of music, sex, drugs, larger-than-life characters and the birth of one of the most famous dance clubs in the world, The Hacienda. Vividly depicting the music and dance heritage of Manchester from the late 70s to the early 90s, 24 Hour Party People documents the vibrancy that made Mad-chester the place to be.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

Fun, beautiful and formally inventive … a singular work in British pop cinema

The Quietus

A light and playful look at the Manchester music scene which spans from the punk explosion to the dawn of acid house.

Slant Magazine

Cast and credits

Director Michael Winterbottom 
Writer Frank Cottrell Boyce 
Tony Wilson Steve Coogan
Alan Erasmus Lennie James
Charles John Thomson

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Playhouse

The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.

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