How Arthur Gledhill-Franks Became a Parkour Storyteller

What makes a parkour athlete into a filmmaker?

Arthur Gledhill-Franks is a London-based parkour athlete who has spent the last decade perfecting an unusual skill: turning his own movement into stories that other people want to watch. That's harder than it sounds. Most parkour athletes are known for one thing. Arthur has quietly built a career across three distinct territories that rarely overlap: precision competition-level tricks, professional stunt doubling for film and television, and original creative content. Each one requires a different mindset, and each one informs the others.

His reputation in the parkour community rests partly on a series of world-first achievements. In London, he became the first person to land an IMAX kong precision to stick and the first to land a St Thomas' stride precision. These aren't casual tricks. They're technical, high-risk moves that demand months of progression, repeated failure, and the ability to commit completely when the moment arrives. Precision parkour is a discipline within the discipline, and it's where Arthur's reputation began.

But precision alone doesn't pay rent. And it doesn't reach audiences. That's where the rest of his career comes in.

From London streets to Channel 4

In 2024, Arthur worked as lead stunt double on Channel 4's drama The Gathering, a six-episode mystery thriller that aired in May. The role demanded something different from competition-level parkour. Stunt doubling requires you to hide inside a character's movement. You're not showing off your best trick. You're being the actor's body when the actor can't safely do the move. You're one element in a sequence that also includes camera angles, lighting, sound design, and narrative pacing. Your job is to be invisible, or at least to be invisible enough that the audience believes they're watching the character, not a double.

This kind of work is why many parkour athletes transition into stunts. It pays better than prize purses or YouTube sponsorships. It offers steady work. It requires professionalism and reliability in ways that competing doesn't. Arthur brought precision and commitment to the role, the same qualities that let him land world-first tricks, and applied them to a completely different brief: service the story, not the skill.

The Gathering was produced by the same team that created Line of Duty and Vigil. That's significant. Arthur wasn't working on a low-budget YouTube series or a passion project. He was on a professional production with national broadcast reach, working alongside trained actors and a crew of dozens. That's the kind of credential that opens doors for more work. For more detail on this intersection, see our guide to parkour in film and stunt work.

Building a body of original work

What makes Arthur different from many parkour athletes who drift into stunt work is that he hasn't abandoned creation. While taking on commercial projects, he's also built a portfolio of original short films. Full Disclosure, released in 2022, is his short film capturing his own top parkour moments from that year. The title is honest: full disclosure of what he was capable of, unfiltered by commercial requirements or character demands. It's purely his movement, his editing, his vision.

This kind of work exists in a liminal space. It's not a viral stunt video. It's not entertainment in the YouTube sense. It's closer to movement art. The audience is smaller, usually other parkour athletes or serious enthusiasts. But that's also the point. These projects keep his eye sharp for composition, his creative instincts active, and his own voice distinct in a field where many professionals sound identical.

Arthur has also been featured in Team Phat's parkour film LISBOOM, which documented the collective's work in Lisbon. Being part of that project connected him to some of the most respected figures in contemporary parkour filmmaking. Those relationships matter. They define who you are in the community and open invitations to future collaborations.

Teaching, precision, and the next generation

At the same time he's building credentials in commercial work and artistic projects, Arthur qualified as a parkour coach at Foucan Academy, one of London's most respected parkour institutions. Foucan Academy sets high standards for its coaching team. Coaches are trained and certified under the guidance of Sebastien Foucan, the athlete widely credited with inventing freerunning as a discipline.

Teaching adds another dimension to his practice. It forces clarity. When you're coaching, you can't just show a trick and say "do this". You have to break down the progression, understand the psychology of fear, assess individual readiness, and communicate in ways that land for different learners. Teaching also keeps you honest. A student will ask why a movement is structured a certain way, and you have to know the answer. You can't fake it.

For Arthur, teaching also protects him. Competition and commercial work can be unpredictable. Prize money fluctuates. Stunt work depends on production schedules and budgets. Teaching provides stability and keeps him connected to the fundamentals of parkour. It also means he's actively shaping the next cohort of athletes, passing forward the technical knowledge and the standard he expects from himself.

A career in movement, not just tricks

What emerges across these three territories is a coherent career strategy, even if it might not look planned at first glance. Arthur has recognised something that takes many athletes years to learn: parkour is a broad church. You can be a competition athlete, a stunt performer, a filmmaker, a coach, or some combination. The goal isn't to pick one lane and stay in it. The goal is to stay active, stay relevant, and keep growing.

His world-first achievements are genuine attainments. Landing an IMAX kong precision to stick or a St Thomas' stride precision puts him in a small cohort of athletes with the technical skill and the courage to commit to extremely difficult movement. But those tricks aren't his only story. His work on The Gathering shows he can professionalize his practice and serve a role beyond his own expression. His creative short films show he thinks about parkour visually and narratively. His teaching shows he understands the discipline deeply enough to pass it on.

This is what modern parkour careers look like when they work. It's not a straight line from viral video to sponsorship to retirement. It's a diversified portfolio where competition, commercial work, creation, and education feed each other. Win a competition, and you have footage for your reel. Work a stunt gig, and you learn spatial awareness that makes you a better teacher. Make a film, and you build relationships that lead to collaborations. Coach, and you stay grounded in why you started moving in the first place.

When looking to hire a professional parkour performer for film, television, or live events, agencies like Movement Management provide access to athletes like Arthur who bring this multi-disciplinary approach. For producers looking for experienced parkour stunt performers, Arthur represents a high standard of professionalism combined with artistic depth.

Arthur Gledhill-Franks represents that model. He's an athlete, but also a craftsperson and a storyteller. He pushes technical boundaries while also understanding that most work in the industry involves serving other people's visions. He maintains his own creative practice while earning a living in commercial spaces. And he passes knowledge forward. You can view his full profile and credits at his Movement Management page.

That's what makes him interesting, both for producers looking to hire a reliable stunt professional and for parkour enthusiasts watching to see where the discipline goes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What experience does Arthur have in stunt work?

Arthur works as lead stunt double and has professional credits on Channel 4 drama productions. He brings precision training and technical skill to stunt doubling, understanding how to serve a character's movement while maintaining safety and professionalism on set. His background in precision parkour gives him the control and body awareness that professional stunt work demands.

Where can I see examples of Arthur's movement?

Arthur's work appears in Team Phat's parkour film LISBOOM and in his own short film Full Disclosure (2022). His stunt work is visible in The Gathering (Channel 4, 2024). For direct inquiries about booking or viewing his full showreel, you can reach out through Movement Management.

Can Arthur coach or teach parkour?

Yes. Arthur is a qualified parkour coach at Foucan Academy in London, where he trains under the certification of Sebastien Foucan. If you're interested in coaching opportunities, training partnerships, or athlete development, enquire through Movement Management to discuss what's possible.

What are Arthur's world-first achievements?

Arthur has achieved multiple world-firsts in precision parkour, including the IMAX kong precision to stick and the St Thomas' stride precision. These were landed in London and represent technical achievements at the highest level of the discipline.

How can I hire Arthur for a project?

If you need a skilled parkour performer or stunt professional for film, television, commercial work, or creative projects, you can enquire about Arthur's availability through Movement Management. The team can discuss your project brief and whether his skillset and schedule align.

Book Arthur Gledhill-Franks for Your Next Production

Get in touch with Movement Management to check availability and discuss your project with our team.