THIS week I’ve been eagerly reading entries to the inaugural month’s Flash Fiction 101 competition and I’ve been struck by the variety and depth that people can weave into a hundred-and-one words. It’s incredible!

For as long as humans have been able to, we’ve told stories. Stories are at the very heart of how we live and learn. Every single person reading this (yes...both of you) will have heard family stories told around the dinner table or friends passing on gossip. It’s hardwired into our humanity.

Theatre grew out of that storytelling tradition, and if you want to get to the essence of what theatre is, it would surely be that. We tell stories. Some stories will make you laugh; some will make you cry. Some stories will educate you, and some will simply entertain. I suppose all art is the same in its own way. Paintings, songs, dances, music, performance...it’s all about telling stories.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the adage “Everyone has at least one book in them.” I think that’s partly true; but it doesn’t have to be a book. It could be a play, painting, composition, poem, dance or any other medium you’d like to have a go at.

Some stories will be told for thousands of years, some will only last for fleeting moments, but all of them will touch a part of us.

So, what’s your story? Our new monthly Flash Fiction Competition has got off to a great start and I’m really looking forward to bringing you the winners each month. July’s entries are now starting to come in...do be a part of it by visiting worcester-rep.co.uk/flash101

The Worcester Rep is running a monthly flash fiction competition, Flash Fiction 101 in association with Tortive Theatre and the Worcester News. For more information and to enter, visit worcester-rep.co.uk/flash101