Patients and staff at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital enjoyed a truly unique experience with The Lensical as part of the 2025 DreamBIG Children’s Festival, which provided a much-needed emotional escape.
This innovative dance performance series was the result of over a year of creative development through a pioneering partnership between the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Arts in Health Program and Restless Dance Theatre (RDT), Australia’s leading creator of dance by artists with and without disability. The performances, which demonstrated how art can elevate care, took place in post surgical recovery spaces, four paediatric wards and within Hospital School.
At its core, The Lensical reimagines dance theatre for healthcare settings. Conceived and directed by choreographer Michelle Heaven, who is also a qualified Play Therapist and enhanced by a custom-designed cone-shaped lens by acclaimed designer Ben Cobham, meant the patient room was transformed into an intimate space for interaction and connection between performer and patient.
“Ben developed an apparatus that can slide over the bed for the patients, allowing them to semi-block out what else is going on and focus in like a lens,” explains Michelle.
The Lensical highlights the vital role the arts can play in healthcare. Research shows that artistic experiences can reduce stress, improve mood, and help with recovery. Dancers, Abbie Madden, Sidney Debba, Bhodi Hudson and Michael Hodyl, all with their own experiences of receiving healthcare support, were able to see directly the patient’s reactions.
“You can physically see the patients’ shoulders relax, they’re calmer, they’re smiling… it makes a real difference,” shared RDT dancer, Abbie, reflecting on the impact of these hospital visits.
The performances received glowing feedback from both patients and their families with one mum describing it as
“a little moment of transportation to another place.”
Integrating performances like these into hospital settings has benefits not just for patients but also for staff, helping to create a more positive and uplifting environment. This project also serves as a tribute to the creative visionary, Roz Hervey, whose brilliance continues to inspire. The Lensical stands as a testament to her passion and dedication, carrying forward her legacy of creativity and care.
