This is the first year of the London Bridge Festival's Short Fiction Award. The competition's directive for writers is to contemplate the 'Glamour and Grime' of the London experience. A relaxed, almost university-English-seminar feel is easily established by Greg Tallent - organiser of both the Festival and the reading. Tonight not very many authors appear - one - with more promised for tomorrow.

The small audience takes turns to read (including the reviewer, for 3 readings). It feels as if everyone has somewhere else to be tonight, in both the fiction and in person - audience numbers slowly decline with each narrative break. Attempting to hold onto such slippery fish, Greg Tallent directs proceedings with aplomb, introducing stories and authors with verve and vigour and discussing themes and ideas as they arise.

The writing is attention-grabbing, with some inspired responses within the one-thousand-word limit. Alex Burger's piece (the eventual winner) stands apart from the crowd in literary talent and concept, but there are many worthy contenders. Rats, gutters, stilettos and bodily functions abound, and there is a distinct lack of glamour in these hard, urban tales.

Focusing on 'the moment' within London life seems to be where success lies in this competition. Fall-out from a car crash, and contemplations on a bus journey are the more successful instances. Expansively-inventive responses often outstrip themselves, when perhaps they would have best concentrated on something smaller in scope. If nit-picking must be done, grammar is mostly competent - with a few slip-ups. But overall, the writing is of a high standard. It's interesting, and certainly fulfills the 'Glamour and Grime' requirement - mainly with grime.

London Bridge Festival's Short Fiction Award is a great idea, providing a fringe outlet for short fiction authors in London. This is something which London lacks, with large-scale competitions proving daunting, and many not holding any significant profile. The reading itself does not perhaps show the stories off to their best potential. Without rehearsal, audience members' readings are stodgy and stuttering, and the monotone of recitation does not lend itself to vibrant and exciting storytelling. Given that this is the first year of the competition, there is plenty of room for development. A slightly more formal occasion in future years could lend the performance dimension which this competition needs. Seeing their work rehearsed up into performance pieces would be an additional incentive for the authors, who deserve to have their efforts recognised.

Author Credits: (include, alpha order): Alex Burger (winner). Will Nero (present at tonight's reading). MC - Greg Tallent.

Company Credits: Producer - Greg Tallent. Company - London Bridge Festival.

END

(c) Alex Matthews 2009

reviewed Thursday 23 July 09 / The Old Operating Theatre, London UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com