1st Edition
Applied Theatre in Paediatrics Stories, Children and Synergies of Emotions
This book explores applied theatre practice for children in environments of illness and cure and how it can powerfully normalise children’s hospitalisation experience. It is an essential tool for making meaning of children’s illness, putting it into a fictional context and developing better control of their clinical experiences. It can be central to raising the standards of care and quality of life during illness.
Taken from the author’s research and participatory bedside theatre practice in hospitals before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, this book demonstrates new learning about aesthetics, ethics, emotions, stories, puppetry, digital arts and research methodologies about children’s health and wellbeing. It provides a selection of ten unique stories told by children inspired by applied theatre practice in paediatrics, cardiac, oncology, neurosurgery, burns units and complex and intensive care wards. Stories aid in understanding the language of children’s pain for a better assessment and management of pain by healthcare professionals through the arts. It analyses synergistic theatre performance in 'stitched lands' between challenging realities and safe fictionalities. This book enables artists to develop new ways of thinking and contributes to further improvements in the provision of education and reflective learning in the field.
It also addresses the emotional labour of the artist in healthcare and makes recommendations for balanced training to prevent emotional exhaustion.
Designed for artists, healthcare professionals, therapists, play specialists and teachers who work with children in healthcare, this text aims to help many people find creative ways of making a positive difference in sick children’s lives. It is a book for those who love and care for children.
1. Hospitalised children’s stories in applied theatre 2. Applied theatre and digital assets on the wards 3. Sick Children’s stories: from patients to story-makers 4. Applied performance, puppetry and hospital tuition 5. Caring enough is never enough: Training actors on emotional Skills 6. The Future: questions and recommendations Appendix A: ‘Rocket-Arts’ or "Simba, the Therapy Dog". The script. Appendix B: "Simba, the Therapy Dog". A digital adaptation. Appendix C: "Lollie the rough collie and the magic kiss". The story.
Biography
Persephone Sextou is a professor in applied theatre for health and wellbeing and the director of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is a leading expert in participatory dramas for sick children in hospitals with 30 years of experience in academia around the world. She is the proud mother of two and the author of Theatre for Children in Hospital: The Gift of Compassion.
"Applied Theatre in Paediatrics, Stories, Children and Synergies of Emotions" is an extraordinary work authored by Professor Persephone Sextou. With remarkable expertise and a deep understanding of the subject matter, Professor Sextou takes us on an immersive journey into the world of paediatric theatre and emotional healing.
In this singularly authored book, she brilliantly explores the intersection of storytelling, children, and the therapeutic process. Through her meticulous insights and compelling narratives, she demonstrates how artists and therapists can join forces to create an environment where emotions are nurtured, children find solace, and society bears witness to the profound impact of this collaboration.
This book stands as a valuable resource for emerging artists and therapists seeking to specialise in paediatric care. Professor Sextou delves into the unique challenges and rewards of working with children in a medical context, emphasising the significance of empathy and creativity in the healing process.
In a world where children often confront complex emotions, Professor Sextou offers a beacon of hope. She illuminates how the power of storytelling and theatre can unlock emotions, fortify resilience, and promote overall well-being. "Applied Theatre in Paediatrics" is more than an academic guide; it's an inspirational roadmap for making a positive societal impact through art and therapy.
In summary, "Applied Theatre in Paediatrics, Stories, Children and Synergies of Emotions" by Professor Persephone Sextou is a singular triumph in the realm of paediatric theatre and emotional healing. It underscores the critical importance of nurturing emotional well-being in our youngest generation and leaves readers deeply inspired to embark on their own transformative journeys. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children through the potent combination of creativity and empathy.
Stelios Kiosses
Psychotherapist
Instructor and Faculty, Harvard University Extension School
For practitioners, artists and researchers with an interest in Storytelling, this book offers a unique opportunity to experience an inspiring reflective journey that could transform the way in which creative activities with children in healthcare are conceived, designed, experienced and evaluated. It is of particular importance the emphasis that the author attributes to the facilitator's wellbeing and to the implications of emotional exhaustion.
Professor Antonia Liguori, Teeside University, UK
