A town is launching its first fringe festival celebrating theatre, music and comedy.

Folkestone Live is making its debut this summer with cabaret shows, children’s storytime, dance performances, live music and stand-up comedy.

The festival is the first of its kind in the town and was conceived after a creative workshop that was hosted in Folkestone last year.

A group of actors, writers and theatre workers came together to discuss the adverse impact of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis on their income and, as a result, the idea of a fringe festival was first discussed.

The team at Folkestone Live, including actor Theresa Cole and comedian Jody Kamali, then brainstormed how to get the festival off the ground.

A GoFundMe page was set up to pay for the professional lighting and sound fees, with volunteers also recruited to help with front-of-house and stage management.

The festival now has the green light and has secured around 30 live performances for its first year.

The acts will take to the stage at The Quarterhouse on Tontine Street and the Grand Burstin Hotel at The Harbour over three days from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14.

There will be plenty of comedy from rising stand-up stars such as Tom Greaves, Richard Pulsford, Phil Green, Tim Larkfield, Louise Atkinson, Rachel Creeger and Jake Baker.

The bill also boasts sketch comedy from the Kids’ Show and Sketch Show Gone Wrong and theatre from the one-man play Ten Men: The Lives of John Bindon and musical and On the Halls with Marie Lloyd.

There will also be family shows, such as Punch and Judy and magic, and music from the Shank Band.

Tickets to Folkestone Live are available online here.

You can also find the full festival programme on the Folkestone Live website.