“parea” [playing care] is a research project into the roles of creative practice in care out of which a series of workshops continues to emerge..

Led by Korina Kokkali and Simon Gleave, the research and workshops emerge from their personal experiences learning how to care for a family member with Dementia and Parkinson’s, alongside a sustained consultation with experts in the crossovers between care and creative work Dr Suzy Wilson and Catherine Peters (Performing Medicine), Louisa White (Joyful Jams) and David Glass (Lost Child Project).

The mentorship of sector-leading initiative Performing Medicine has been key in laying initial groundwork for ongoing research into care.

These interactive workshops are designed to support participants in caring for others and for themselves. We explore a variety of simple creative techniques and tools derived from dance, music and theatre, which can be used every day.

Principles of “parea” [playing care]

In order to play and care, we create a safe, comforting environment to be together in.

We engage in games and simple physical exercises and activities.

Working through movement stimulates the body and mind.

By engaging in movement work, we engage the human at the layer of physical health first.

Then we play.

Play constitutes attitudes and behaviour that test possibility, potential, probability and certainty in a fun, open handed manner through the use of various creative media and techniques.

Those techniques (all under the general subset of the term play) include: eye contact, questions, conversation, stories, jokes, games, singing, playing music, mime, dance, exercise, observation, writing, drawing, colouring and many more.

We play in order to be free.

Our experience of being free depends on factors of physical health, emotional health and mental health.

We care for people where they are, not where we would like them to be.

We play for people where they are, not where we would like them to be.

Participants have said:

"The workshop has reinforced my belief in the key and enormously important and varied role play can have in care and the relationship between carer and cared for".

"Care lies at the core of being. Of being human. Playing, constantly reinventing ourselves is a route of survival through the hinterland of Care Giving and receiving....A balance that changes day by day - to find human connection - to resist the pull into exhaustion and despair."

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