Collaboration between the Unicorn Theatre and Great Ormond Street Hospital

During Spring & Summer 2023 the Unicorn worked in partnership with GOSH Arts to engage with patients and their families on Falcon outpatients and Bear ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). This project is part of the research for a future Unicorn Theatre production, which explores transplant and organ donation.

Director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, Sound Designer Max Perryment and Poet-Facilitator Desree Gumbs-Carty collaborated with children, families and staff at the hospital to create an original poem and a pallet of sounds for a soundscape which brought the poem to life. Children took part in creative activities, which were designed with the support of GOSH Arts and Play Workers connected to the wards. Activities ranged from exploring what it feels like to be happy, calm, excited and adventurous to designing their own houses and listening to music. All of the conversations and creative activities children participated in helped shape the final soundscape At times, the world feels….

During the delivery of the activities many parents and carers shared their experiences of their time on the wards, with some describing their connection to the wards akin to the one they might have with the street they live on, which conveyed a powerful and pervading sense of community and camaraderie to the Unicorn team.

The time the Unicorn team spent at GOSH was invaluable in enabling them to develop an understanding of the lived experience of heart transplant patients and their families and will allow the Unicorn to develop work for our stage, which is reflective of that. At times, the world feels…. was voiced by the children at GOSH and is an enchanting and soothing soundscape, which takes you on a delightful journey through their worlds. It aims to provide a moment of respite if ever ‘the world feels…’

In the coming year, the Unicorn team will continue to develop the final production with the support of GOSH Arts to ensure the piece reflects contemporary medical and relating ethical practices, as well as the lived experience of those who have gone through or are going through transplant. The Unicorn team are also exploring incorporating At times, the world feels… as an audience experience for the future production on the Unicorn stage.

This project was generously supported by:

The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, The Childhood Trust, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and supporters of our 2022 Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign.