Pantomime Performers Bring Festive Cheer to Hospital

Individuals who perform in pantomimes have visited a hospital, departing from their usual performance venue, to bring festive joy to both patients and staff members. Dennis Ffrench and Rebecca Shepherd, members of the theatre ensemble D&B Productions, chose to wear costumes last week to surprise an acquaintance at West Park Rehabilitation Hospital in Wolverhampton. The positive reception to their initial visit led to an invitation for them to revisit the hospital wards, accompanied by their costumed characters. Ms Shepherd stated, “We realise Christmas can be a tough time for a lot of people and just to have a conversation can be that big pick-me-up.” Beyond their engagements at the hospital, the duo, who reside in Wolverhampton and Burntwood, Staffordshire, have also been distributing presents and packages to vulnerable inhabitants of the city and engaging in conversations with them at their residences. Matron Emma Stewart commented that the hospital visits were “lifting people’s spirits” and enhancing the mental wellbeing of patients. She further noted that this initiative was novel, leading to patients and staff becoming “really excited.” Spencer Wood, a patient who has been in recovery from a stroke for approximately two weeks, described the actors’ visit as a “real surprise” and proposed that the hospital might gain from comparable programs in the future. He remarked, “It cheers you up when you’re doing nothing all day, it takes your mind off things.” Ajay Purewal, 63, who was employed as an Uber driver prior to experiencing a stroke approximately six weeks ago, stated that the actors’ visit “lifted everyone’s spirits” and imparted a “cheery feeling” to patients. He commented, “You’re not spending Christmas at home [so] it brings a bit of joy to the whole ward.” He added, “I haven’t really seen much of Christmas because I’ve been stuck in here but seeing someone coming in dressed up cheers you up.” Readers can follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.