StoryMap 2
Igor Emmerich, Portrait and Advertising Photographer, Folkiestone, UK.
Folkestone StoryMap started out as a collection of fictional stories, written by people with a connection to Folkestone, anchored to landmarks within the town.
Just the Ticket
By Charles Bain-Smith
Charlie, an architect, who lives in the town with his family, started writing at school when he used his many detentions to write stories, not realising that anyone actually read them. Egged on by his teacher’s praise, he has been writing ever since. His story was partly inspired by events this summer when littering became a huge problem in the park, amid much finger pointing.
His story is read by Oliver Senton, a Folkestone-based actor who has starred in many West End shows including Mamma Mia! The Musical, The Showstoppers, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and for The Royal Shakespeare Company. Oliver is also an associate of Slung Low in Leeds and played Phil Masters in The Warp, the longest play ever written. Incredibly, he improvised for 50 hours non-stop in the London Improvathon.
Martha and the Pirates
By Martha Brook
Thankfully Martha’s story wasn’t inspired by real life events happening on our doorstep but by playing pirates on the sunken pirate ship with her brother and sister. Martha is just eight years old and lives in the town with her family. She loves making up stories and like many of the authors, wrote hers during lockdown.
Martha’s story is read by twice BAFTA award-winning actor Jessica Hynes who, in a strange coincidence, helped Martha learn to roller skate a few years ago at the Harbour car park. Jessica lives in the town and is best known for her roles in Spaced, There She Goes and W1A as well as her film The Fight, shot in Folkestone.
The Gentlemen’s Club
By Joseph Burton
Eighteen-year-old Joseph Burton grew up in Folkestone. He won the Young Walter Scott Prize in 2018 and is studying History at Oxford University. He’s currently submitting entries to competitions, uploading fiction to his website josephfrankburton.wixsite.com/website/archives, and trying to write a novel. The Gentlemen’s Club, was inspired by his interest in early 20th century British history when modernity was beginning to take hold yet society was still heavily influenced by the Victorians.
Joseph’s story is read by actor Alex MacLaren who lives in Folkestone. Alex trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has performed everything from Shakespeare to Panto over the years. He also runs workshops as a director of The Spontaneity Shop.
Funicular
By Louise Burgess
Louise is a writer who grew up in Folkestone and has lived in the town all her life. She was inspired to write a story about the iconic Leas Lift, built in 1885 at the height of Folkestone’s popularity as a tourist destination, but which has been sadly closed since 2017. Louise has many happy memories of riding on the lift and hopes her story will bring it back to life for the listener.
Her story is read by Folkestone actor Lucille Ferguson who is much loved by the town for her role as Mother Christmas, opening each evening’s event for the Folkestone Living Advent Calendar. Lucille is also well known as a storyteller and theatre maker, and curated Folkestone 48, a play festival in 2019 at The Quarterhouse.
