We are delighted to offer Theatre for Children in Hospital: The Gift of Compassion (Sextou, 2016) for review. Whilst expressions of interest are welcome from across the medical humanities, this book would be of particular interest to a reviewer with experience and expertise in applied theatre and performance, drama therapy, or child health. Further information about the themes under study can be found at Intellect Ltd.
Recent decades have seen a new appreciation develop for Applied Theatre and the role of art in arts-based activities in healthcare. 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.
If you would like to review Theatre for Children in Hospital (no more than 1,000 words in length), then please consult our reviewer’s guidelines and email our reviews editor with a short explanation of why you are well placed to review the book.