The pandemic was tough. Staff at Whittington Health NHS Trust know that better than anyone!

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‘In Our Own Words’ is a collection of stories and reflections from the past four years (and beyond), charting the extreme challenges and the incredible moments, memories and mighty people who extended themselves and achieved so much throughout the pandemic and since.

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Wake The Beast Theatre company and The Whittington’s Clinical Health Psychology Team worked with NHS staff from early May 2020, conducting interviews with over 400 staff and collecting over 300 hours of audio, which we then presented in seven theatre pieces, ten short films to Care Home staff, B.A.M.E staff, community and hospital staff from 3  NHS Trusts from June 2020 until present.

Actors performed these stories with clinical psychologists to staff in care homes, community clinics, meeting rooms and hospital wards across many sites.

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 On Thursday 26th May 2022 we performed a one night only performance of 'In Our Own Words' at Jacksons Lane Theatre in an uplifting and forward-looking reflection, illuminating the real people behind the ‘heroes’ narrative. It was a chance for us to say thank you to the 200+ staff who agreed to be interviewed about their experiences. It was also a chance for family and friends of staff and the public to witness for the first time the inspiring stories from ‘behind the scenes’ at one of London’s busiest NHS Trusts.

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You can watch the full live streamed performance of 'In Our Own Words' at Jacksons Lane Theatre by clicking on the YouTube video at the top of this page.

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Wake the Beast were invited to perform 'In Our Own Words' at the Houses of Parliament on 25th April 2023 and are touring the project to 12 NHS Trusts across England in April 2024. 

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