The Co-Presence and Ontological Ambiguity of the Puppet

This paper relays the findings of the evaluation of an applied theatre project for children in hospital as perceived by hospital teachers. A mixed qualitative approach was used. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to explore the teachers’ views on children’s engagement with learning and the improvement of the hospital experience as a whole through applied theatre. The article presents examples of children’s stories that illustrate the findings. The study concludes that applied theatre in paediatrics can engage children with hospital tuition and learning during treatment; improve the management of emotions; help them relax and communicate with the outside world.

Theatre in paediatrics: can participatory performance mitigate educational, emotional and social consequences of missing out school during hospitalisation?

Listening as a material

ABSTRACT Hospitalisation can be a challenging experience for young people, including higher levels of anxiety, social isolation, and depression. In this paper we identify the possibilities of an applied theatre pilot that aimed to combine co-designed virtual reality (VR) approaches with intermedial work with young people in hospital. Within the pilot study we worked with three participants in individualised bedside workshops over a four-week period. Analysis from the pilot demonstrated the significance of the co-design process leading to greater degrees of agency for young people, and opportunities for the participants to share experiences with medical staff, carers, and siblings.

Future stories: co-designing virtual reality (VR) experiences with young people with a serious illness in hospital

El contexto global de la pandemia por coronavirus demandó un número creciente de enfermeras para cubrir las necesidades en el ámbito asistencial. También exigió abarcar sus otros roles, como el de educación y promoción de la salud en una población que requería ser empoderada en su autocuidado. Académicos de Enfermería con experiencia usando títeres en educación sanitaria, diseñaron un programa de obras online con el propósito de promover la salud de las familias reunidas, prevenir el COVID-19 y difundir el rol de Enfermería, apoyados por la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (Chile), Colegio de Enfermeras de Chile y Servicio de Salud Talcahuano (Chile). Los procedimientos básicos, consistieron en escribir y transmitir 14 obras originales, las que fueron visualizadas por público familiar de cinco continentes; en vivo y en su versión grabada, con cobertura de medios nacionales e internacionales. Durante el proceso el equipo debió sortear diversas limitaciones relacionadas con el confinamiento y el manejo de la tecnología para generar el streaming. Los principales hallazgos destacaron más de 27.000 reproducciones y 4000 comentarios. El público consultado consideró positivo el mensaje de las obras y que la universidad transmita conocimiento usando títeres. La experiencia se presentó en eventos académicos y artísticos. Se concluye que los títeres permiten educar en salud de forma entretenida y permiten captar la atención del público de todas las edades. Las redes sociales facilitaron la cobertura de las obras, para una promover la salud y el rol de Enfermería sin fronteras.

Títeres online para promover la salud familiar en pandemia: alcance global de una innovación en enfermería

This article explores the connections between puppetry performance practice and the activation of empathy, considering the synergies between puppetry and medical practice where empathy is a key factor in healing. I draw on a consideration of the place of puppetry within ritual transitional and healing practices to develop an examination of contemporary modes of performance which require deep listening, response and attention. I examine the connections between neuroscience and puppetry which suggest that attitude-taking engenders empathy, and compare this to my puppetry training practice to suggest that training for and engaging in puppetry practice can encourage and stimulate empathy. This has significance for practitioners of puppetry working in healthcare contexts, and for medical practitioners who undertake some form of puppetry, either within their training or as continuing professional development. Although the different forms of empathy are connected in practice, the article focuses especially on affective (emotional), cognitive and social empathy.

Walk in/Walk As My Shoes: Puppetry and Prosocial Empathy in Healthcare

Puppetry is a resilient art form, as has been evidenced by the response of puppeteers to the recent COVID-19 pandemic Perhaps this is fitting, as puppeteers have a long history of travelling to perform and adapting their performances to changing circumstances In this report, we provide a sample of puppetry projects that are taking place around the world and some insights from puppeteers on how they are working through COVID-19;using puppetry to teach about COVID-19 and teaching puppetry in general;to entertain and to perform puppetry that is offered as ritual at a time of crisis

Puppet theatre under COVID-19. (Special Issue: Puppetry, disability, health and well-being.)

An interview with Rachel Warr of Dotted Line Theatre on the synergies between surgery and puppetry

Cariad Astles

Papers

Walk in/Walk As My Shoes: Puppetry and Prosocial Empathy in Healthcare

Puppet theatre under COVID-19. (Special Issue: Puppetry, disability, health and well-being.)

Collaborations Between Surgery and Puppetry: Rachel Warr