Our National Health Stories: UCLH Poetry Commission with Camden Roundhouse Poetry Collective
Our National Health Stories was a collaboration between 19 NHS trusts across England. It built upon and shone light on the incredible and diverse work – often hidden from public view – of the National Arts in Hospitals Network.
In the 75th anniversary year of the National Health Service, the programme engaged thousands of NHS staff to explore, share and reflect upon what being part of the NHS means to them, what it stands for, and the impact it has had on their lives. Each unique story was told through artwork of all different forms – music, poetry, drawings, paintings, and film – developed during a six-month nationwide engagement programme by and with staff.
The project culminated in November 2023 with a day-long series of events in hospitals across England, curated by Young Vic’s Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah and the creative team, taking place as a relay across England, followed by a live show at the newly-opened Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, in Manchester.
Our National Health Stories Live - Finale
As part of the project, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust commissioned five poets to write and share stories from the NHS.
The five commissioned writers are alumni of the Camden Roundhouse Poetry Collective and have created works based on words from NHS staff. Their final poems were performed live at UCLH in November 2023.
Meet the poets below:
Maddy Accalia is an award-winning playwright and poet from Brighton who is currently Resident Artist at The Roundhouse. Her work is rooted in the female experience and examines personal politics through candid dialogue and observational comedy.
Esme Allman is a poet, theatremaker and facilitator based in South East London. Her work explores desire and imagination against the backdrop of blackness.
Sarah McCreadie is a poet from Cardiff who has performed from Newport to New York.
Courtney Conrad is a Jamaican poet who has performed at Glastonbury Festival, Brainchild Festival and UKYA City Takeover and been commissioned by the likes of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Guildhall and Tate Britain.
Thembe Mvula is a poet and writer working across the written word, performance and film. She is the author of We That Wither Beneath, her debut prize shortlisted poetry pamphlet.
Our National Health Stories Live - Trust Events
About UCLH Arts & Heritage
UCLH Arts & Heritage is the hospital arts and heritage project that serves UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and its surrounding community and is funded entirely by charitable donations and fundraising. UCLH Arts & Heritage is committed to providing a welcoming, uplifting environment for all patients, visitors and staff through the use of a varied and stimulating arts and heritage programme. Its work aims to improve the patient experience, boost staff morale, increase engagement with the arts and celebrate the Trust’s unique heritage and community.
Since 2005, UCLH has worked to improve patient and staff outcomes through the Arts. It does this in a number of ways, including a changing exhibition and music programme, creative workshops on wards, artist residencies, commissioning site-specific artwork, and a staff culture club. UCLH arts and heritage receives its funding from UCLH Charity and the Friends of UCLH.
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