Show Up Plus! Maintaining Creative Participation in the Margins

Guddi Singh (Centre for Public Policy Research, King’s College London) and Caitjan Gainty (Department of History, King’s College London, in collaboration with WHAM – Wellbeing & Health Action Movement, the Powering Up Collective, Zoë Goodman, and clinical partners including Hannah Zhu (Evelina Hospital / WHAM). The project was supported by young participants from Dunraven School, artists and facilitators connected to WHAM, and partners at the Southbank Centre.

Show Up Plus!, led by Guddi Singh (Centre for Public Policy Research) and Caitjan Gainty (History), brought together young people and clinicians from south London to explore health inequalities through creative co-production. Building on the success of the 2024 Show Up! pilot, the project used theatre, music, movement and digital storytelling to sustain relationships between participants and deepen conversations about what health, care and equity mean in everyday life.

Working in partnership with WHAM, the Powering Up Collective and the Southbank Centre, the team created a space where young people and clinicians could collaborate as equals. Across a series of workshops and digital exchanges, participants co-designed sketches, dances, spoken-word pieces and reflective exercises that made visible the emotional and relational dimensions of power in healthcare. These insights culminated in a vibrant participatory performance and discussion event at the Southbank Centre.

The project highlighted the transformative potential of arts-based methods in healthcare culture. Young people gained confidence in expressing their experiences and aspirations, while clinicians described the process as empowering and “restorative,” helping them reconnect with empathy, creativity and leadership. Show Up Plus! has laid the groundwork for a longer-term programme exploring how creative practice can shape more inclusive, community-centred models of health.

For full details of the project, please see the PDF case study below.

Show Up Plus! Maintaining Creative Participation in the Margins – PDF Case Study