ABOUT
This project was created by White Rabbit arts organisation, and commissioned by Medway Libraries as part of the Creative Health Place Partnership Programme.
Bernadette Russell and Emma Waterford worked with participants throughout autumn 2025 on a series of creative writing and storytelling workshops. The participants responded to a series of 12 “stopping places” on a circular route through the local area chosen by the creative team in collaboration with local residents. The route was selected to avoid main roads as much as possible, for the ease of those who might want to walk it. It was also designed to work just as well for those listening at home.
We began from the starting point that “nothing is ordinary” – that every place on earth is full of extraordinary stories, and something as simple as a bent railing, a carpark full of crows, or a misplaced book can serve as creative prompts for our imaginations, and that folklore of place is a living, breathing thing which can be created anew by those who live and work there. We hope that you’ll discover as we did, that Luton is full of magic, mystery and mischief.
We hope you enjoy!
Stories collated by Bernadette Russell and Emma Waterford.
Map designed and illustrated by Melanie Smith.
Sound Design by Hannah Marshall.
Stories voiced by Bernadette Russell, Emma Waterford, Owl Class, Year Five from Kingfisher Primary School; Team Seal, Year Four from Luton Primary School; residents and staff of Victory Care Home and visitors and staff of Luton Library.
Commissioned by Medway Libraries as part of the Creative Health Place Partnership Programme.
Sound design made from original, collected and self-made field recordings.
Foley and original music / sound design from audio recordings and computer generated effects.
SFX made by and recorded from Luton community workshop participants.
Additional SFX from SFX CD's, open source sounds and music (Incl. Charleston 1925 & excerpts from Tom & Jerry) from www.internetarchive.org
Additional field-recordings of crows, pigeon, nightingale, parrots, geese, running, crowds, steps, teacups & purring with grateful thanks to the wonderful co-contributors on www.freesound.org
The Team
Bernadette Russell
Bernadette is an award winning author, storyteller, playwright, kindness campaigner, and tree planter. She is co-artistic director of arts organisation White Rabbit.
www.bernadetterussell.com
Melanie Smith
Melanie Smith is an artist and illustrator, her work can be found on maps (both real and imagined), in gallery trails and on hospital walls for children and wrapped around chocolate bars.
Emma Waterford
Emma Waterford is an experienced multi - disciplinary creative practitioner, her work focuses on well being, people and place.
Hannah Marshall
Hannah Marshall is a musician working with stories, performance and people.
Her practice is informed by improvisation, natural law & sound healing.