Recent decades have seen a new appreciation develop for applied theatre and the role of arts-based activities in health care. This book looks specifically at the place of theatre for children who are hospitalized, showing how powerfully it can enhance their social and mental well-being. Child-led performances, for example, can be used as a technique to distract young patients from hospitalization, prepare them for painful procedures, and teach them calming techniques to control their own pre- or post-operative stress. Persephone Sextou details the key theoretical contexts and practical features of theatre for children, in the process offering motivation, guidance and inspiration for practitioners who want to incorporate performance into their treatment regimen.
Foreword
Prologue
Introduction
Motivation and beliefs
Arts and health
The structure of the book
Chapter One: A TCH definition and more...
Applied theatre in hospitals
Theatre as an 'antidote' to clinical stress
A playful 'marriage' of two cultures, the artistic with the clinical in audience participation
The artist-child synergistic relationship
Ethical concerns
TCH and therapy
Chapter Two: The distinctive features of TCH practice and research
Background information of the study
Understanding the clinical context
The study: Methodology
Findings and discussion: TCH practice comes alive!
Chapter Three: TCH as a choice: 'I want to make a difference!'
A philosophical approach to TCH
Aristotle
Heraclitus
My philosophy
Chapter Four: Concluding thoughts
Summary
The future of TCH
Appendices
Appendix One: Breathing with Love, the script
Appendix Two: The shape of our bedside theatre rehearsals
Appendix Three: Writing a TCH proposal plan (bid)
Appendix Four: Example of application letter
Appendix Five: Guidance for applying for NHS Research Ethics Committee approval (for researchers only)
Note on the author
Bibliography
Index
