Recent decades have seen a new appreciation develop for applied theater and the role of art in arts-based activities in healthcare. This book looks specifically at the place of theater for
children who are hospitalized, showing how powerfully it can enhance their social and mental well-being. Child-led performances, for example, can be used as a technique to distract young
patients from hospitalization, prepare them for painful procedures, and teach them calming techniques to control their own pre- or post-operative stress. Persephone Sextou details the key
theoretical contexts and practical features of theater for children, in the process offering motivation, guidance, and inspiration for practitioners who want to incorporate performance into
their treatment regimen.
