“Now is the time of the Sea Gooseberries, they come and go with the tides bringing magic from the past and songs for our future.”
Join us on a Quest to reunite the Sea Gooseberries and reveal their message.
The Quest is part of Beacons, a new community adventure and live event taking place across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh in November and December 2021. Through storytelling, music and light it seeks to connect us to each other, our local landscape, and our place in the wider ecosystem.
Beacons follows 200 Sea Gooseberries that have washed ashore and become separated in the landscape, leaving fragments of their magical songs for people to find at 50 locations in shops, cafes, parks and open spaces. They need to be reunited for their magic to work and the story to be revealed.
Get a map, go out and about and collect the song fragments that are hidden across the district. Register any you find on the Beacons portal beaconsproject.uk. If you are lucky, a Sea Gooseberry may choose you to look after it at your home where it will glow brightly in your window for you to bring to The Gathering.
The Gathering is on Sunday 19 December, 3.30pm at Sunny Sands beach, where, if we are successful in The Quest, we will be rewarded with the ending of the story.
Free to join in. Everyone is welcome. Suitable for all ages. We recommend searching in daylight and wearing suitable clothes and boots for the elements. If you have access needs and would like additional information on the locations please ask us and we’ll do our best to help. We won’t be giving away the answers to the clues though! The Quest is available to participate in 24/7, but not every location will be accessible at all hours. Please see our FAQs for more information.
Maps are available from:
- Folkestone Quarterhouse, Tontine Street.
- Folkestone Library, 2 Grace Hill
- Sandgate Library, James Morris Court, Sandgate High Street
- Wood Avenue Library, 17 Wood Avenue
- Cheriton Library, 64 Cheriton High Street
- Hythe Library, 1 Stade Street, Hythe
- Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, Dymchurch Rd, New Romney
Beacons has been created by Folkestone-based theatre-maker and artist Alison Neighbour, alongside sonic artist and composer Emily Peasgood, creative technologist and game designer Tarim, wearable sound system designer Alistair Harle, and a team of other local creatives. Over the past nine months, Alison has been working with Sea Gooseberry Guardians from across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh to secure safe passage for the Sea Gooseberries
Beacons is produced by arts organisations SparkedEcho and Creative Folkestone with funding from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, The Ashley Family Foundation and donations from individuals.
It is produced by arts organisations SparkedEcho and Creative Folkestone with funding from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, The Ashley Family Foundation and donations from individuals.
