During the second lockdown in 2021, Wells Maltings reached out to audiences online. One of the real successes from that period was our monthly short story sessions, SHORT AND SWEET. Hosted by Maltings director Simon Daykin, this free one hour session brought writers and listeners together virtually to enjoy the craft of the short story.
Two years later, the sessions continue as a hidden highlight within our programmes. It may not be a full theatre, but in a virtual space somewhere, a handful of local writers are sharing their work, and inviting others to critique and comment.
The value of these sessions is enormous, and contributors get an incredible amount from taking part. As one regular contributor says, the group “patiently gives me the time and space to experiment … a ‘safe’ space where I have felt free to take risks – one risk being to have fun!”
With agreement with the regular contributors to the sessions, we are now sharing their work online too, in written form. Every month, we’ll be publishing a few examples of what the group has developed, for wider enjoyment.
The monthly sessions online are of course the place to hear the work read by the authors, but we hope that you enjoy their pieces here too: