'Healthcare

professionals spend much of their time listening to stories of sickness

related by patients and their families. It thus seems appropriate that

drama, which is primarily concerned with exploring narratives, change

and crises and relies, like the clinical situation, on communication, is

an ideal medium for healthcare professionals to gain new insights into

care.' From the Introduction Good communication forms the heart of

patient-centred care and is the cornerstone of a trusting relationship.

Enhancing Compassion in End-of-Life Care Through Drama explores a broad

range of plays from Greek tragedy to the present day and investigates

how particular theatrical dynamics help to understand complexities in

the setting of end-of-life care. It examines fresh ways to interpret the

action and subtext represented on the stage and finds symmetries in a

clinical context. It is ideal for use in a range of educational

contexts, with practical ideas for workshops and summaries of key

concepts in each chapter. This book will motivate all members of the

multidisciplinary palliative care team including palliative care

professionals, doctors, nurses, psychologists, spiritual advisers and

social workers. Although based in the setting of palliative care, the

learning points are relevant to all areas of clinical practice.