An interview with Dr Mike Stockton, St Gemma's Hospice

Pluto Play Productions has had a long and successful relationship with St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds – and have worked on several plays together, including Hello my name is.

We spoke with Dr Mike Stockton, Chief Medical Officer & Consultant in Palliative Medicine at St Gemma’s Hospice, to learn how this partnership has developed over the years.

St Gemma’s Hospice has commissioned Brian to create a number of plays. Can you talk me through your first meeting with Brian – and your motivation for wanting to work with him to tell the stories health and social care?

Brian and I were first introduced via a mutual friend and colleague, Claire Henry. Claire was on the senior team for Hospice UK and was visiting St Gemma’s for a Dying Matters event, and Brian came along with her.

Brian and I had an instant connection which was underpinned by our mutual interest and drive to improve Palliative and end-of-life care through theatre, questioning how you can convey emotional, complex and often denied areas of the human condition and journey in a way that engages people and awakens their curiosity and self-awareness. 

Brian has a real skill in capturing the essence of these dilemmas and life events. 

What is the process of working with Brian to tell such sensitive stories?

Brian and I have spent some time discussing the clinical front-line work and nuances of care. And from that Brian manages to weave together several stories into one to create the final piece.

Are there any powerful reactions from audience members to any of the plays that you’ve worked on together that you remember in particular?

I think the strongest audience reaction has been to the whole area of attachment, loss and grief. It’s one that most people can identify with and relate to and there is always a diverse set of emotions and responses.   

Do you feel that there is increasing recognition about the challenges and nuances of palliative care?

The recognition of the importance of Palliative and end of life care has grown over the past decades.

This has been through a mixture of science, strategy and campaigning. But within that mix, there is theatre and drama which impacts people in a very different way and can reach parts that otherwise are challenging to get to. 
If there’s anyone reading this, who has a story about health and social care to tell, but is maybe feeling nervous about sharing their story, what advice would you give them?

It feels a little risky to tell our stories. It can make us feel vulnerable and exposed. My experience though is that telling an honest human story, that can educate and guide us, can be as or more powerful than the science, the data and the strategy. 

If have a health and social care story which you would like to speak to Brian about, please get in touch.