Hannah Rowe

M-24 founder Mat Dusting tells Hannah Rowe about his unusual products and why they are still produced in Somerset

This weekend a taste of South America burst into the sleepy Suffolk countryside, as Snape Maltings once again hosted the Flipside festival. The festival catered for all ages with art, dance and music tents as well as the varied literature talks. Literary guests included: David Hare, crime writing duo Nicci French, Fernanda Torres, Louis De Bernières, Joanna Trollope, Patrick Barkham and many others from both Britain and Latin America.

Flipside describes itself as a ‘Family Arts Festival’ and it’s clear that in this third year there has been much more of a focus on the children’s events. The Mezzanine hangout, with its precarious looking book sculptures, provided a lovely indoor space for children and there was plenty to entertain young festival-goers in the outside art and music tents.

Flipside’s first Encounter promised to be ‘A Meeting of Minds’ and it didn’t disappoint.

Flipside, Snape Maltings, October 3-5

I didn’t know what to expect from the Poetry Prom. Both location and name seemed to suggest it would be a rather highbrow affair full of sombre, intellectual wordplay. However, Poetry Trust director, Naomi Jaffa, soon dispelled any of these preconceptions as she introduced the evening with the promise of widespread hilarity. A risky promise to make, for comedy can be highly subjective and poetry has a reputation of exclusivity. But my fears of a tumble-weed silent Snape Concert Hall were entirely unnecessary as, from the off, our funny bones were well and truly tickled.

Frequently Asked Questions opens with a few disclaimers, but I advise you to pay no heed. Firstly, there are definitely far more than three jokes in the whole piece, and secondly their lack of adult life-experience is almost irrelevant, as the four teenagers reveal insight beyond their years. Sam, Tom, Jack and Gemma provide a teenager’s ten step guide to adult life. From love to the internet, careers to social conditioning, they ask some of life’s big questions and provide a biting critique of the culture surrounding us.