Literary Events in the 2022 Festival

Music and comedy may be central to the festival’s success, but literary events always make a strong showing, drawing on the wide range of local talent as well as attracting visiting celebrities. Two free events: after two years’ absence, the Frome Writers’ Collective’s Small Publishers’ Fair, returns to the Silk Mill on Saturday 2nd July, while the results of the Frome Festival Short Story Competition, together with Flash Fiction at the Stones and Young Writer awards, will be announced on Sunday 10th on ECOS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are speakers to entice both writers and readers – especially those with an interest in history. Local historian and author Gary Kearley will present a free talk on Frome and the Monmouth Rebellion, at Frome Museum on Saturday 2nd and Bristol based historian and broadcaster David Olusoga will be speaking on A House Through Time at the Cheese and Grain on Monday 4th July, Frome-based historian Peter Clark will be reflecting on writing about Churchill on Tuesday 5th and visiting scholar Dr Carole Sargent will deliver the Frome Society for Local Study Festival lecture about Frome’s 18th century poet Elizabeth Rowe, on Wednesday 6th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audiences can choose between Trevor Lecther’s talk on environmental issues, Chris Jagger presenting his memoire ‘Talking to Myself’ or the Hip Yak Poetry Slam on the evening of Thursday 7th July, while on Friday 8th, local writer and author Kate Lynch will present her book: Traditional Craft in Somerset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final Saturday brings one of the nation’s favourite poets to the Merlin stage. A leading member of the Liverpool poets in the 1960s, Roger McGough has a body of work which stretches over more than 50 years; he is also the presenter of the BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please. Roger will be supported by local performance poet Liv Torc, who also hosts the Hip Yak Poetry Slam.

Added to this heady mix are original drama productions on offer from, Frome Drama club, the ‘Nevertheless’ and the ‘Really Truly’ Theatre Companies, and The Haunting of Richard lll on the ECOS stage from the 7-9th July. Fans of the written and spoken word will be spoilt for choice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frome Festival Short Story Competition

Our annual short story competition is open until 31st May 2022 for stories of 1000 – 2200 words, with results being announced and prizes awarded on the last Sunday of Frome Festival,10th July. There are prizes of £400, £200 and £100 for general entries, plus prizes for local writers, so it’s well worth having a go. Entries started to arrive in January and, as usual, we can expect stories from all parts of the UK and beyond. Full details of how to enter are at www.fromeshortstorycompetition.co.uk .
 
This year our judge is the Frome-based journalist and novelist, Keith Stuart. Keith is the author of the best-selling ‘A Boy Made of Blocks’, ‘Days of Wonder’ and ‘The Frequency of Us’. He is also a veteran journalist, writing on video games and digital culture.
In addition, there is a ‘Young Writer’ award for the best story by an entrant aged 16 to 21 living in the BA11 postcode. This annual prize of £50 was instituted last year, thanks to the generous support of Kerry Wilkinson, a successful writer now living in Canada, who grew up and went to school in Frome. Entry to the Young Writer award is free, not through the competition website but by email to fromewriterscollective@gmail.com.                   
Please see  www.fromeshortstorycompetition.co.uk for further details.
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