QUARTERHOUSE - FULL ON FOLK
We talk comedy, art and creation with the new director of Folkestone’s Quarterhouse
There is something special happening in Folkestone. You can feel it. Walking through the now dubbed ‘Creative Quarter’, there is a hive of activity with independent shops, galleries and stimulating workspaces inspired by those frequenting the seaside locale.
Some 15 years ago, the Creative Foundation breathed a new air of optimism into the former busy port town. No doubt, it has taken a while, and yes, millions of pounds has been spent in the pursuit of the new vision, but there has also been the blood, sweat and tears shed from an army of artistic disciples to get Folkestone back onto a positive gradient.
The phrase“Folkestone is an art school”, can be found daubed in various high footfall locations, while the famous Folkestone Triennial continues to grab international attention every three years with prominent outdoor art attacks that even Neil Buchannan couldn’t fathom.
But nowhere manifests this unshakeable belief in the revitalising power of creativity more than the Quarterhouse.
An arts centre, a theatre, a gig venue, a work space, a café; the Quarterhouse is something different to everyone, but has been a driving force of positivity since it opened in 2009.
In fact, in 2017 it was anointed the hub of the Triennial welcoming art seekers to pick up their maps and catalogues,
“There were 20 artworks in the Triennial this year,” says new Quarterhouse director Cheryl Pierce.” Of course, you don’t have to start at the visitor centre, but knowing that you can pick up the map and that there will be people here to show you where to go, then this is the place to go.”
With much of the Creative Foundation basing itself in offices at the Quarterhouse, the new projects that come to pass in Folkestone knit much more closely with the venue.
“The Creative Quarter has grown up at this end of town, and it felt kind of natural for everything to start gravitating to here, too,” says Pierce. “There is a sense of identity around the Old High Street and Tontine Street and I think it’s a community that the Quarterhouse feels very imbedded within now, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
COMMUNITY
Having stepped in as maternity cover for outgoing director Allegra Galvin, Pierce is now leading the way in booking acts, working with the community and making sure the Quarterhouse reaches its full potential.
“The narrative of the Creative Foundation is something that when you start working here, you have your induction and you are told the story of how everything started and you get very excited about it,” says Pierce.
Having worked for a theatre company based in London and Melbourne, Pierce is loving being back on the local scene, and draws a number of comparisons between Folkestone and her native Brighton.
“I was born and grew up in Brighton and have seen it transformed. I can see how Folkestone is doing a lot of the same things as Brighton did, but for me, I feel like here, we are being more careful. It’s very much creative- and arts-led regenerational placemaking. It’s very much about offering better
rents for artists and encouraging creativity. It feels less commercial than Brighton, and it’s taking more care with its community.
“It has been in place for 15 years, so it has been cumulative, and every time there is a Trienniale, there is a burst of interest in the town, and that slows down a little, but then three years later it all peaks again.
“This year, though it does feel as though a tipping point has been reached and you can look around outside of the Triennial and it is now a buzzing town.”
Just a short walk further into the town and there are new shops, restaurants and bars opening; activity that many long- term locals have been waiting for.
Cheryl Pierce
“And Quarterhouse is part of that,” says Pierce. “Having a performance venue, that community hub, almost old- fashioned idea of a ‘civic space’, has really helped.
“That is something that I am really keen on encouraging and developing here.”
During the Triennial, the Quarterhouse’s level one space was transformed into a work of art itself with wooden carvings transforming the café into an eye-catching space. Pierce hopes to capture this vibrancy and keep the venue open all day to encourage use.
“I think keeping the café bar open during the day is a real game changer. Making it a place that people can drop in during the day,” she says.
“For us we need people to buy a ticket to a show. That is our lifeblood, without that we can’t continue to survive. But actually, people walking over the threshold, I believe is really important, coming in having a chat with the person on box office, picking up some leaflets that are not necessarily for here, going upstairs, having a coffee and settling down with a laptop, doing work and not feeling like they are needed to buy loads of stuff.”
There are spaces for meetings and there has even been local DJs asking if they can use the cafe for practice sessions in the bar in the evening.
“We think that it will bring people into the space and keep the bar open.”
ACTS
While being part of the community hub is key, ultimately, a theatre lives and dies by its acts and the crowds it can pull in. But there is no doubt that the core team of five, working seven days a week, covering everything from booking acts to box office, are willing to work for it.
“We have a really eclectic programme,”says Pierce, because it’s a really diverse space. We had a heavy metal gig in here last night and we have a broadcasted viewing of an opera today.”
The auditorium can hold 250 with its full seating plan, complete with balcony, while the retractable seating can be removed to open the space a 490-person standing gig venue.
“Having that scale of music venue is quite niche in Kent, so we have had some fairly big names and heritage acts like the Divine Comedy, Ibibio Sound Machine, The Handsome Family and the Hot 8 Brass Band recently.”
But it's arguably on the comedy circuit where the
Quarterhouse pulls its biggest punch, with the likes of Lee Nelson, Al Murray, Andy Parsons, Paul Foot, Miles Jupp, Romesh Ranganathan, Lee Hurst, Ross Noble, Richard Herring and Robin Ince all performing in the last year.
“Comedy always sells out,” explains Pierce. “So we often get big names, because we sell out. They want to come here and try out new shows and acts before Edinburgh or going on tours. My colleague Katie has been working hard with the comedy promoters to make sure they love the venue. They really do like the space and the size of the audience.”
I should imagine they quite like the open-minded nature of the locals, too.
Despite the prerequisite to bring attractive names to the theatre, the Quarterhouse remains faithful to its community.
“We do try to get the best small scale work that is on the touring circuit right now, that is absolutely part of what we do, but at the other end of things, we encourage people from the community to come to us if they want to put on a gig or a festival and we can see if we can make it work.
“The innovation that Allegra, my predecessor brought in, are the festivals. We have two or three a year that we co-curate with the local community.
“We have these events called ‘Think Ins’, where we invite the local community to come and tell us ideas for the festivals. We have a festival of the brain, and a festival of the sea and the environment.
“The Triennial continues to grab international attention every three years with prominent outdoor art attacks that even Neil Buchannan couldn’t fathom”
“So, for example, the ‘Normal? Festival of The Brain’, last year, was about changing habits and behaviours, just because of the conversations we were having with the community beforehand. And a third of the programme within those festivals is led by them, either created or suggested.
“We are also part of the WOW network of festivals that runs out of the Southbank Centre in London. That’s where our festivals started, we linked in with the Southbank and do WOW Festival of Inspiring Women. We have taken the thinking process behind our festivals from them, but they don’t mind.”
And all the while the Quarterhouse continues to draw tourists, comedy fans and, more importantly interest, into the town, I don’t think the locals will mind either.