Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK
9th-16th August 2025

Category: Foreword Festival

Thank you!

The Foreword Festival is over for 2025! We’ve sold our last book, performed our last poem, and waved goodbye to our final authors of the week. Before we all collapse and sleep for a couple of days, the organisers would like to thank ALL our sponsors, authors, supporters, volunteers, venues, and of course – our…
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Not Your English Teacher’s Poetry Night!

If you haven’t made it to any of the Foreword Festival events yet, don’t miss our punk and performance poetry night on Friday – it’s going to be amazing! Book via the John Peel Centre Box Office. Don’t worry – it’s not going to be intense people in black berets smoking Gauloises cigarettes and discussing…
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Wondering how to get to the Foreword Festival?

The Foreword Festival doesn’t operate from a central venue. Instead, you’ll find us in locations all over Stowmarket! Head to the Find Our Venues page to plan your visit by car, train, or bus. .

Announcing the Fast Foreword Winners!

. We’re delighted to announce the winners of the Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition! Actors from QuirkHouse Theatre will be performing the stories on our Storytelling Trail for grown-ups on Saturday August 9th. Join them for a tour of Stowmarket, with some fantastic stories from East Anglian writers! 12pm – John Peel Centre (at the Vinyl Fair)The…
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The Fast Foreword Shortlist is here!

. We’re delighted to announce the shortlist for the Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition! The ten winning stories will be announced on July 7th. Stay tuned! 57 Philosophies – B. BarnettA Hug Too Far – Richard StainerAshes to Ashes – Virginia BettsCharacter in a Car – Samantha TasseraThe Choice – Morag ClarkeThe Cottage – Des…
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Judging in Progress!

The closing date for our Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition has passed. Thank you to everyone who entered – the judges are looking forward to reading your stories! The judging panel will chose ten stories to be performed across five venues at the Foreword Festival 2025, by actors from the Quirkhouse Theatre Company. We’ll announce the times and venues on the…
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Flash fiction competition deadline day!

It’s the Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition deadline day! The competition closes AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT – May 31st 2025!  . We’re looking for stories of 400 to 500 words. Quick, punchy narratives that you can sit and read in the time it takes you to enjoy a cuppa. Stories can be on any theme, in any genre. Entry is…
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Flash fiction competition – enter by TOMORROW!

Don’t forget to enter our Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition for 2025. The competition closes TOMORROW – May 31st 2025!  . We’re looking for stories of 400 to 500 words. Quick, punchy narratives that you can sit and read in the time it takes you to enjoy a cuppa. Stories can be on any theme, in any genre. Entry is completely free!…
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A Window on a Word

We are really excited to announce that we are working with Fox Yard Studio to bring artwork inspired by writing and authors to the Foreword Festival! The exhibition, A Window on A Word, will run 9th-16th August, featuring two amazing artists – Josh Sutton and Colin Latter. Both artists will be exhibiting word-inspired paintings in…
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Flash fiction – time is running out!

Don’t forget to enter our Fast Foreword Flash Fiction Competition for 2025. The competition closes THIS SATURDAY – May 31st 2025!  . We’re looking for stories of 400 to 500 words. Quick, punchy narratives that you can sit and read in the time it takes you to enjoy a cuppa. Stories can be on any theme, in any genre.…
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