THE programme for this year’s Farnham Flash Festival is fast coming together following the latest ‘get together’ at Rock Choir headquarters on Thursday, March 22.

There was tough competition for attendance, as the meeting coincided with the Farnham electors’ meeting, but turnout was good, almost half of those attending were newcomers, and there was great news about how the festival is shaping up.

If you’ve been on the www.farnhamflashfestival.org.uk website, you’ll know that the calendar for June is filling up with a variety of performance events.

What emerged at the meeting was that the schedule, which includes events still in process of confirming details of time and place before registering, is significantly fuller, with all but five dates now containing events.

There are new performers, and new venues, including those who just missed out last year. It’s clear that the word is out and interest in this vibrant local initiative is growing. An exciting development is an ambitious programme of five events being mounted by the Hog’s Back Writers. This includes readings by local authors from their published work, a critique evening, poetry readings and a writing competition. This all provides a whole new dimension to the festival.

Their Flash Competition is open to all aspiring writers, including children. Entries will be judged by local writer Joanna Barnard (writer of Precious and Hush Little Baby) with two £100 prizes for the winners; shortlisted work will be read from at the final event in the Garden Museum at Farnham Museum.