9th-16th August 2025 – Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK
Poetry and Spoken Word Night
Don’t miss a feast of performance poetry at this special event! Featuring award-winning poet and Battle Rapper Mark Grist, plus James Domestic, Amy Wragg, Sam Marsh and Lorna Mackinnon, all MC’d by AJ Deane.
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Larry Lamb Author Talk
Please welcome Larry Lamb to the festival! The ‘Gavin and Stacey’ actor will be telling stories from his career and talking about his new book, ‘All Wrapped Up’, live and in person at the Regal Cinema. Tickets selling fast!
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Romance Authors in Conversation
Join four of East Anglia’s best-loved writers of contemporary, historical, and romantic fiction in conversation, live and in person, at the Regal Cinema. Tickets selling fast!
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Love Your Local Authors Book Fair
A literary feast, celebrating East Anglian authors and small presses. Discover your new favourite author, and pick up signed copies of their books. Entry is free, and there will be a pop-up cafe!
I’d love to come!
Fringe Literature Book Fair
Meet a colourful and diverse host of amazing authors and small presses from around the country. Find all kinds of fiction, non-fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Poetry, Graphic novels and more! Entry is free, and the cafe will be open.
This sounds amazing!
Children’s and YA Market Stall
Discover books for children and teenagers at the free Family-Friendly Market in Stowmarket! Meet the authors, find your new favourite story, and take home signed copies of their books!
Show me the books!
Author Talk: Jackie Carreira
Meet Jackie Carreira – writer, playwright, musician, co-founder of the Foreword Festival, and author of the first novel set in Stowmarket for 120 years (we Googled it!). Entry is free – donations are welcome.
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Author Talk: Russell Webb
Have you ever wondered what makes someone start writing a book? Join retired firefighter Russell Webb as he tells his personal story of writing, healing, and mental health in an inspiring free lunchtime talk.
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Author Talk: Dr Michael J Walker
Join us for a special talk from historian Dr Mike Walker, and discover how an historian works – using a case study that brings to life the little-known but crucial local events of 1173 in Haughley and Fornham! Tickets free.
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Children’s Poetry: Elisabeth Sherriff
Join Elisabeth to create your own wild and wonderful words, be it on your pet dog, doughnuts or your favourite dinosaur. You choose – your imagination is the limit! Free event, suitable for children of any ability aged 5-10, including those on the autism spectrum.
I’d love to join in!
Children’s Talk: Lynda Brignall
Join Lynda to learn all about hedgehogs! Lynda volunteers at Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital, she will be using some of the beautiful graphics from her second book about hedgehogs in this interactive talk. Free event, suitable for 3 years and up – all ages welcome.
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Writing Workshop: Rachel Churcher
Give your creative writing a glow-up at this free writing workshop for teens and young adults aged 12-16! Join award-winning YA author Rachel Churcher to explore the power of person and tense in your writing, develop your stories and engage your readers.
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Flash Fiction Competition
The Foreword Festival is running another Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition for 2025. If you live in East Anglia, you are invited to enter! Winning stories will be perfomed live at the festival by Quirkhouse Theatre. Entry is free – deadline is May 31st.
How to enter
Publishing Workshops
Our festival sponsor, Stowmarket-based Softwood Books, will be running three publishing workshops during our book fair on August 9th. If you’re thinking about editing, publishing and publicity for your book, this is a great place to start!
Tickets available soon!
Writing and Art
Artists Josh Sutton and Colin Latter bring their distinctive styles and subject matter to the Old Fox Gallery for a display of art inspired by writers, books, and typewriters. Free display – original art, prints and postcards will be for sale.
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About Us
Meet the team behind the Foreword Festival, and find out where it all started. Plus meet our sponsors and supporters, and find out what else we’ve been up to!
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Our Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunites
We’re looking for businesses in and around Stowmarket to support our not-for-profit, volunteer-led event. We’re a Community Interest Company, run by volunteers, and we believe in working together to make sure everybody benefits from their involvement in our events.
If you would like to add your logo to our publicity, and sponsor an aspect of the festival, we’d love to work with you!
Latest News
Larry Lamb is coming to the Foreword Festival!
We are very excited to announce our first author talk for 2025 – please welcome Larry Lamb to the Foreword Festival! The Gavin and Stacey star will be telling stories[…]
Read moreForeword Festival Poetry Night
We are really excited to announce the Foreword Festival Poetry Night at the John Peel Centre, Friday 15th August 2025! Check out our line-up, and keep checking our blog and[…]
Read moreFast Foreword is back!
Our flash fiction competition, Fast Foreword, is back for the 2025 festival! We’re looking for stories of 400 to 500 words – prose, not poetry. Quick, punchy narratives that you can sit[…]
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Foreword Festival UK C.I.C.
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