https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-theatre-and-drama/
"It’s been a very interesting learning experience… a good opportunity - especially for people interested in therapy and/or storytelling.
This placement has opened new doors for my future - myself and the other student working on the project were also offered a possible position working on another project"
Naomi Linahan (BA Theatre & Drama)
"I have finished this placement with a wealth of skills and knowledge of how to deal with professional individuals and patients. This placement has provided me with great experience in the field and is one of the main reasons I have been accepted for an MA in therapeutic and developmental play."
Olivia Morgan (BA Theatre & Drama)
During the 2020/21 academic year, two Theatre & Drama final year students undertook a remote placement with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board working across Arts in Health and Systemic Family and Community Service.
They were working with Esyllt George, Arts and Health Coordinator and Leah Salter (Family and Systemic Psychotherapist) on a project to create short films to represent the stories of women who were part of a community project called “not to be forgotten stories". In this project Health Board service users, staff and members of the community of Bridgend County Borough were invited to share their stories of the pandemic with a therapist and storyteller and also with a participatory artist who worked with each storyteller/ participant.
Following on from this project people were supported to share their story wider, if they chose to, to enable community learning.
Naomi and Olivia spent time with two storytellers, listening to their story, getting to know them, then sensitively and thoughtfully producing videos to represent the stories so that they could contribute to staff and community learning. Theses stories were anonymised without generalising the unique, personal and important stories that were shared, linked to experiences of loss, isolation and mental wellbeing.
The students gained invaluable experience, and had an insight into the role of arts within health and the work of the Health Board. It also helped them to think further about their future Career paths.