A winner (with Les Smith) of the Manchester Evening News award for Best New Play, Martin taught script-writing at the universities of Bolton and Salford, before becoming an adjudicator and mentor for the 24:7 theatre festival. Over the years, in addition to drama, Martin has seen more ballet and contemporary dance than is wise for a man with two left feet, and much more opera than any other holder of a Grade 3 certificate in singing.

A resident of Salford Quays, Lorraine Worsley Carter received her MBE for Exceptional Services to Community and Broadcasting in 1998 and became a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 2008. She is Senior Partner of Countess Publicists. Her love of travel takes her near and far.

Steve Timms grew up in Oldham and studied Theatre at the University of Huddersfield. He has written for several publications including City Life, The Big Issue, Litro. Little White Lies and Storgy. He is the author of several plays including Detox Mansion, American Beer, and Temp/Casual (staged at Contact Theatre in 2011). He is a recipient of the Peggy Ramsay award.

A Manchester resident, raised in London. Moses has a keen interest in all things theatre, techy, sporty, music, film and languages (notamment francais).
His greatest achievement was cycling from London to Paris to raise funds for Action Medical Research in 2011. When not cycling he has entered The Bruntwood Prize for playwriting and won the Contact Theatre’s playwriting competition ‘Flip the Script’.

Cathy is a scriptwriter, poet and journalist. She also lectures in creative writing.

Leslie is a third year Multimedia Journalism student at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is a long-time writer for the Northern Quota news site. 

Dr Simon A. Morrison is a writer and academic who has reported on the music scene everywhere from Beijing to Brazil; Moscow to Marrakech. He currently works as Programme Leader for the Music Journalism degree at the University of Chester. His books include Discombobulated - a collection of Gonzo ‘Dispatches From The Wrong Side’ published in the UK and US by Headpress.

Journalism student from the Midlands studying in Manchester. I have a great interest in all things musical, having performed in musical theatre from a young age. Favourite musicals include Wicked and Hamilton.

Reece is a freelance journalist based in Manchester.

Katie is a Manchester-based journalist, interested in music, social issues and the arts

Jordon Francis is a freelance journalist based in Manchester.

I am an aspiring journalist in my final year of study at Manchester Metropolitan University. I came to Manchester because I wanted to become involved in the city's vibrant music scene, whether it was playing in a band or vicariously through interviewing other musicians.

Jemma is a freelance journalist based in Manchester.

Verity is a freelance journalist based in Manchester.

Hazel Roy in an International theatre director, writer and dance practitioner based in Manchester. She is a fully paid up member of the ’sod retirement at 60-create a new life’ fraternity. She started directing at 54. She is 74 on 13 July 2020 .

I’m a third year journalism student in Manchester. I’m from Cumbria and fell in love with the city when I moved here, which inspired me to write about the city’s culture as it has so much to offer that people should know about. I love reviewing and writing features, and I’m always busy writing, working, going to uni or playing hockey. I hope to have a great career in journalism when I graduate.

Hannah is a student journalist from Yorkshire, studying in Manchester. When she isn’t deep in a music hole finding new rock songs, she’s trying to get her Staffie to look at the camera.

Amy is a freelance journalist based in Manchester

Rory was born in Northern Ireland before moving to England in his late teens where he studied for a degree in film studies and writing for performance. He has had a lifelong love of movies. His earliest memory is of watching Disney’s The Fox and The Hound at the cinema when he was three-years-old.

Thomas is studying for a BA hons in Multimedia Journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University where he is a Sportswriter for Student Radar Radio Podcast.

Alison Ruck is a marketing and PR specialist by day, following many years as a theatre PR, Alison left the arts industry but became a north west reviewer to keep her love of theatre burning bright. She has a degree in Drama & Media, and performs in Amateur dramatics in her spare time.

Isabelle is a freelance journalist based in Manchester.