This year the Solstice Shorts Festival, held on 21st December, the shortest day of the year, takes Shortest Day as its theme. As a result all the stories being read are really short – under 1000 words. As with previous years the stories are read by actors, and there is live music. This year however there was a two part call out, and some of the stories are inspired by the music, and vice versa.

We are back on two sites, with free poetry music at Made in Greenwich Gallery 324 Creek Road, Greenwich, SE10 9SW 6-7pm,  and free stories and music at West Greenwich Library Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN 7.30-9.30pm, (with, we hope, a procession led by a choir between the two sites- we have to work out who can cope with singing and walking at the same time!) The main event is followed by a Night Write workshop for writers led by poet Ruth Steadman back at MiGG from 10pm-midnight, £10.

For the musically inclined there is an ‘advent’ event on 26th November 12.45-17.15 St Hilda’s Church Hall, Courtrai Road SE23 1NL to learn folk songs suitable to the season from internationally acclaimed folk singer, community choir leader and all round lovely person, Lester Simpson. £25.

Book tickets for all events here

Stories from CB Droege, David Mathews, David Steward, Katy Darby, Lee Nash, Liam Hogan, Pippa Gladhill, Polly Hall, Roger Hecht, Rosalind Stopps, Sarah Evans, Sarah James, Tom McKay.

Poems from A.J. Akoto, Frank Rubino, Jill Sharp, Joan Leotta, Karen Bovenmyer, Karina Lutz, Laura Page, Lisa Kelly, Mario Duarte, Marlee Cox, Megan E. Freeman, Pat Tompkins, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Steph Thompson, Tim Cremin.

Music from Zachary Gvirtzman, Vocal Chords Choir, Sarah Lloyd & Ian Kennedy, Juliet Desailly. Specially written lyrics from Alison Craig, Moira Quinn.

All performances are BSL interpreted.