Folkestone Voices at Quarterhouse

On Thursday, 19 November 2026, the Quarterhouse in Folkestone will host Folkestone Voices, a joyful celebration of local creativity. Fifteen writers, selected by ballot from an open call, will take to the stage to share their original, unpublished work, offering a vibrant snapshot of the stories emerging from the community. Each writer will have three minutes to read or perform their piece, which can be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation.

The event is part of the Folkestone Book Festival, which runs from Thursday 12 to Sunday 22 November 2026. The festival is curated by Sophie Haydock, a novelist, journalist, and cultural curator who lives and writes in Folkestone. Haydock is the author of two novels, The Flames and Madame Matisse, and has written for several major publications, including The Sunday Times and The Guardian.

Sophie Haydock is also the Curator of Books, Ideas and Community at Creative Folkestone, where she leads the town-wide Folkestone is a Library project. She has been recognized for her work, including being named one of Zetteler's 26 Cultural Changemakers for 2026. Folkestone Voices is a unique opportunity for writers to share their work with a live audience, and for the audience to discover new talent and stories from the local community.

Tickets are with the button beside the article. The event lasts one hour, and attendees can look forward to a diverse and exciting showcase of local writing talent.