Poetry, Prose and Film in Palliative Care

Author of the Review: Ms Fiona Gilmour

Facilitator of the Event: Ms Fiona Gilmour

Hosted By: On the Rocks, St. Andrews University

Location: Byre Theatre, St. Andrews

Event Date: 10^thApril 2019

Aim: To read and discuss poetry pause, mutual listening and storytelling for improved wellbeing

Participants: 8 in total

Introduction to the session

The group facilitator initiated the session by welcoming participants, and introducing the project Poetry as Unifying Shared Experience (PaUSE) and the aims for session. The facilitator then invited participants to select evoke word and picture cards (http://evokecards.com/) from the workspace table that portrayed their feelings in that moment in order to measure wellbeing at baseline. The group took turns to share their chosen cards and the rationale for their selections. This activity facilitated participant interactions, and enabled the facilitator to understand their motivations for attending the session. It emerged that some people felt speculative or hesitant about engaging in the sessions. Others felt intrigued and were keen to learn more about what the session would involve. Interestingly, some participants disclosed personal experiences and narratives, perhaps enabled by the respectful and supportive space created by the group.

Poetry reading and discussion

The facilitator presented three poems to the group and invited the group to choose the poem that would be the focus of the poetry reading and discussion section of the workshop. The group selected ‘Strawberries’ by Edwin Morgan (1968).

Firstly, the session facilitator read aloud the poem, followed spontaneously by another member of the group. Remarks by participants during discussion time included that they felt moved by the readings, and commented on the influence of the differing accents, paces and tones used by the readers on their experience of hearing and making sense of the poem. Three further readings and discussion opportunities enabled the group to explore the poem in detail and consider themes that resonated with them. Participants generously offered personal accounts and engaged in personal storytelling, supporting and promoting dialogue and engagement, creating a sense of community and shared understanding.

The group decided to end the poetry and reading section of the workshop by collectively reading the poem, further reflecting the connections and community cultivated by the workshop.

Reflections

The facilitator invited participants to consider the themes and narratives identified during the discussions, and essential oils and fabrics were made available to facilitate a creative and sensorial approach to reflection. The participants conversed and wrote during this time, and later regrouped to share their thoughts, feelings, memories, diary lines and poems; and their openness was received with respect and understanding.

Conclusions

The session concluded with participants having another opportunity to select evoke cards and shared their final thoughts relating to the session and their own wellbeing. Participants also kindly submitted written feedback to the facilitators in the form of answers to a questionnaire, which will be useful in developing the workshops and project. The use of the evoke cards at the end of the masterclass and of a questionnaire was useful to measure wellbeing and capture any impact.

On The Rocks Festival

Join Dr. Riccobono and Fiona Gilmour in collaboration with OTR for a poetry masterclass. This events aims to use poetry reading and discussion, through its potential ability to facilitate pause, mutual listening and storytelling, to strengthen wellbeing. This event is supported by the St Andrews Poetry Forum.

The interactive masterclass will offer the chance to work with some experiential and kinaesthetic learning  and some practice at note taking / poetry writing during the On The Rocks Festival in St Andrews, on 10th April 2019. This is part of the public engagement for ‘Poetry as Unifying Shared Experience’ part of the larger research project ‘Poetry, Prose and Film in Palliative Care’.

The Byre Theatre, Studio, 10 April 2019, 4pm

Follow this link: https://www.ontherocksfestival.com/copy-of-dance?fbclid=IwAR3F26p-n1M3DhUqJpSLPzqu6-yZBEhLH1A6UBz4eVYHaTDJy-ROnpUSdeY

A Reflection on the Networking Day Event.

Poetry and Film in Palliative Care: Reflections on Holistic Approaches to End of Life Care

by Fiona Gilmour

Event Date: 17^thOctober 2018, 10am-5pm

Hosted By: St. Andrews University

Location: Byre Theatre, St. Andrews

Organiser:  Rossella M Riccobono

Funders: The Italian Culture Institute in Edinburgh & The Russell Trust Development Fund

Keynote Speakers:

Rossella M. Riccobono (University of St Andrews)

Erna Haralsdottir (St. Columba’s Hospice and Queen Margaret University)

Fiona Gilmour (Four Seasons Health Care & University of St Andrews)

Suzie Stark (Chaplain at St. Columba’s Hospice)

Sarah Collins (University of Manchester & ‘Remarkable Lines’)

John Killick (Poet)

Giancarlo Sissa (Poet, Actor, Educator)

Margherita Carlotti (University of St Andrews)

Susan Chater (St. Columba’s Hospice)

Mary Gilles (GP)

Amy Hardie (Film Director)

The themes of the networking day were poetry and film as instruments to inspire holistic approaches to palliative care. Speakers and specialist considered and debated holistic practices to support people approaching end of life. This included healthcare professionals, people working in palliative care, poets, arts therapists, academics, a film director and an acting company. Presentations covered a range of topics, contributing evidence and experiences from practice.

Themes from the day included:

1. Exploring the needs of people in palliative and end of life care (patients, professionals, family members etc.)
2. ‘Being with’ and listening as enablers of therapeutic relationships.
3. Creative and holistic approaches can facilitate expression and capture narrative (e.g. film, drama, poetry)

The day commenced with a welcome by Sean Allan, professor of German and Head of Modern Languages at The University of St. Andrews.  This opening eloquently captured the essence of the day. Rossella Riccobono offered further context to the day and her passion for medical humanities reinforced the significance of the event. She also read a short introductory text and a poem by poet Myra Schneider, who was unable to attend the event. Followed were the keynote speakers, separated by breaks and time for workshopping and discussion.

As the day developed, creativity and discussion flowed. The networking event united people from diverse backgrounds and professions who were curious to learn and explore holistic approaches to palliative care and to consider what they could offer to the practice. Reflecting on the needs of patients, families and healthcare professional in palliative care enabled the network to consider how holistic practices could support these needs. The group dedicated discussions to understanding approaches to listening and ‘being with’ people approaching end of life.

Throughout the event, there were a number of poignant moments, interestingly permitting the network to practice ‘being with’. In testimony to the warmness of the day, a member of the network voluntarily shared their experience of living with cancer and facing death; An Italian poet shared with network a poem spoken in Italian; and, a drama company performance demonstrated that acting could prepare people to engage with experiences of health care and ill health.  In the evening, film director Amy Hardie invited the network and public to a viewing of her powerful documentary ‘Seven Songs for a Long Life’, which explores connections with mortality.

Event organisers and speakers created a workbook for the day. The workbook included the programme for the day, information about the speakers and exercises that the speakers had prepared. The exercises aimed to encourage discussions and debates relating to the presentations within workshopping time. The organisers invited participants to note responses and feedback within the workbooks. During discussion participants commented on the value of the workbooks as a resource to capture thoughts from the day. Remarks also included that the event challenged participants to consider the power of words and their therapeutic worth.  It seemed that people had taken time to ponder their responses to the exercises and embraced the challenges posed.

For future events, we will encourage attendees to share content on social media. An organised twitter hashtag could capture feedback and support dissemination.

The opening image of the ‘word butterfly’ embodies some thoughts and expressions from the day.