Somewhere Else’s Graham Bruce Fletcher was invited to read at Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday 16th October.

He performed his prize-winning story ‘X47B’ at the annual Gloucestershire Writers’ Network  event.

Stephen Connolly’s short play ‘The Gasman Cometh’ was performed (as a script in hand reading) as part of Salisbury Festival Fringe ‘Rough Cuts’ event on Sunday 2nd October in the Pheasant Pub, Salisbury.

Andrew and Frida meet by chance at the Crematorium, each recently widowed, each there for their spouse’s service. But they have met before… in the most horrendous of circumstances. Can they keep their respective families apart long enough for their services to take place?

Sometimes, the one person you least wanted to meet is the only person you can talk to.
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Kerry Stockwell played Frida, Mike Prior played Andrew. The director was Pee Talman.

Somewhere Else writer Iris Anne Lewis, along with fellow poet Peter McDade, will be headlining a poetry gig on Friday 23rd September at Deep Space Works in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.

All are welcome at this event which is part of the New Bohemians@Charlton Kings programme of events. The evening starts at 7.30. Deep Space Works is a community arts centre, situated in Hamilton Road, Cheltenham, GL63 8HN. There is plenty of free parking within a one minute walk of Deep Space at St Edward’s Prep School, London Road, opposite Hamilton Street.Further information here.

More success for Stephen Connolly, who has made the long list of the Chesil Theatre, Winchester’s, ten minute playwriting Competition. Steve is now waiting to hear if his play ‘Ten Years’ will be amongst those performed at the theatre in October. Writers were asked to submit ten-minute dramas on a theme inspired by the life or lyrics of music legend David Bowie. The ten winning plays will receive their premiere over one weekend in October 2016 at the 10×10 New Writing Festival. They will be produced, directed and performed back-to-back at the Chesil Theatre. Each play will receive at least three performances.

Deborah Edgington, the 10×10 producer, said: “The aim of 10×10 is to discover, promote and produce the very best new writing of 10-minute plays. It has grown to become a national competition attracting entries from all over the UK.”

Stephen’s short story ‘The Fog’ appears in the July/August edition Ripples Magazine.

Clare Finnimore’s radio play ‘When Will It Be Me?’ was performed at Burdell’s Yard, Bath, as part of the Bath Fringe Festival on Sunday  5th June. The play, which was a collaborative work from Clare and three fellow students, explores the feelings of the people left behind when a young man heads off to fulfill his dreams in Ecuador. Clare is currently studying for an MA in script writing at Bath Spa University.

Angela France, poet-in residence at the Gloucestershire Echo, recently featured three poems by Somewhere Else writer Iris Anne Lewis in her monthly column. The poems concerned were ‘Seven Hundred Years of Grief Ago’; ‘What’s in a Name?’; ‘Under New Management’. The first two feature Kempsford, the last one Cirencester. The column appeared on May 17th. Many congratulations Iris.

Miles Bailey, director of the Choir Press, based in Gloucester, was the guest speaker at Somewhere Else Writers this week. He spoke honestly and interestingly about the perils of self-publishing and gave practical advice on how to avoid some of the pitfalls. He also spoke about the mechanisms and economics of traditional publishing and how they differ to the self-publishing world.

The Choir Press can be contacted here

Angela France, poet-in residence at the Gloucestershire Echo, will be featuring three poems by Somewhere Else writer Iris Anne Lewis in her monthly column. The poems concerned are ‘Seven Hundred Years of Grief Ago’; ‘What’s in a Name?’; ‘Under New Management’. The first two feature Kempsford, the last one Cirencester. The column is due to appear on May 17th.

Many congratulations Iris.