To celebrate Pride month in June, an audio trail sharing the lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community will launch in Maidstone town centre.

The 'Not a Phase' audio tour is an oral social history project hoping to amplify voices and celebrate real stories through a series of interactive QR codes.

The project has been set up by the Hazlitt Theatre in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council, with funding from One Maidstone.

On Monday, June 13, QR codes will be dotted across the town centre, each one taking you on a personal journey.

Amy Riley, youth and outreach director at the Hazlitt Theatre, said: "There will be different checkpoints throughout Maidstone and we're hoping to build a map so that we can share with people exactly where all of them are hidden.

"A lot of the stories so far have been centred around nightclub and bars so hopefully there will be some popping up around there.

"They will be scattered all around Maidstone and some of them aren't focused just on the town centre, so I think it's important that those stories are told as well."

Although Pride month is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and many of the stories on the tour will be positive, there are some touching accounts of the more serious issues that remain in Maidstone.

Tracy Burke, the marketing manager, explained: "There is a history there, and it's not all rainbows - we want to hear the real voices.

"I think initially we had said we wanted stories of joy but actually we want the reality.

"We want to amplify the voices so these issues aren't hidden - we can document them and build upon them.

"At the Hazlitt we pride ourselves on giving everyone a place, and in this opportunity giving them that voice as well."

The installation is set to run until Sunday, June 26, culminating in a live recreation of the stories shared by the theatre team.

But they hope it remains in place for a little longer, inspiring more people to come forward with their stories and experiences as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Amy added: "My hope would be that it opens up a conversation and kind of sparks a revolution in terms of what is available for LGBTQ+ people in Maidstone."

The team behind the tour are hoping that it will be received well, although there have been some fears of resistance.

But Amy assured they are committed to ensuring it is "absolutely perfect."

She said: "I think resistance is always in the back of people's minds.

"I would hope that this kind of project will be used as a platform to celebrate people and I think that is what it's all about.

"If somebody were to spray paint over it I'll find another way to share it - it wouldn't just be the end of a project for me, it would be the spark of the beginning of something different.

"It's a horrible reality but we are committed to finding ways to make sure it all goes ahead as it should and it all goes perfectly."

Stories can still be submitted to the tour until tomorrow evening (May 27), by emailing hi.youththeatre@parkwoodtheatres.co.uk