As you may have seen from our Social Media posts, the award winning 'The C Factor' is back, it's live and in person. Adam will be transforming once again into the character of Ricky.
What is 'The C Factor' and who is Ricky?
'The C Factor' began as a one year pilot and was funded by Macmillan Cancer Support between September 2018 and July 2019.
It's a creative arts and psychology initiative with and for people undergoing cancer treatment. It combines psychology, storytelling and applied theatre approaches to create a safe space for participants, which is intended to be energising, uplifting and empowering.
The character of Ricky was created from a variety of consultation workshops attended by cancer patients, carers and staff. By research into similar programmes and from one to one interviews with patients with a range of cancers and cancer stages, and from different ethnicities.
Following on from the research a text was put together using verbatim words, (with permission), from the interviews with the patients, which Adam performed as Ricky to people undergoing cancer treatment.
The sessions were co-facilitated by Adam, Dr. Sue Gibbons (Clinical Psychologist in the Cancer Care Psychology Service) and Tracey Palmer (Macmillan Information & Support Manager) and provided patients with the opportunity to communicate and share experiences, as well as gain tools and information to help self- manage the emotional challenges of cancer.
We received lots of feedback and most notable from the patients was the opportunity to laugh as one of the most effective ingredients in the sessions, which we were really pleased about. Patients also mentioned how it made them realise that they were "not alone" and being in the sessions was a welcome distraction.
Here's some of the other feedback we received
“So many themes and events resonated with my own journey, seeing it broken into stages was a good way to approach the various issues patients face.”
“It has made me feel more hopeful about longer term effects.”
"His story telling was really important because the focus wasn’t just on me - I wasn’t put on the spot. I felt really safe and comfortable.”
Award Winning
In November 2019 'The C Factor' won a Macmillan Award for Excellence in Innovation.
Covid Times
Throughout the pandemic Adam was still able to do 'The C Factor' sessions online...this is what he had to say back in September 2021...
"Humbled, inspired and lucky to have started our 4th version of the C Factor today - with people going though cancer treatment at the Whittington Hospital with Macmillan, Whittington Clinical Health Psychology and us...Wake The Beast
DIY live studio for todays interactive storytelling performances based on verbatim interviews with a generous group of ex patients who agreed to share their stories.
As always there was laughter, tears and a lot of love in the space with an exciting new group of participants.
Sessions like today are why I make theatre - but also because...Next week I get to wear the pink leotard."
So what's next for 'The C Factor'?
At the end of September 2022 Adam began performing once again as Ricky at The Whittington Hospital in live sessions with the Whittington Health NHS Trust Macmillan Cancer Support.
Wake the Beast's work with them is ongoing.