Holding Baby: a creative exploration to raise awareness about kinship care through the writing of a play, Holding Baby, and a poetry collection, Holding

Watts, Janet (2018). Holding Baby: a creative exploration to raise awareness about kinship care through the writing of a play, Holding Baby, and a poetry collection, Holding. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Holding Baby: A creative exploration to raise awareness about Kinship Care through a play, Holding Baby, a poetry collection, Holding, and a critical commentary placing the work in a cultural, societal and practice-led context.

The dramatic work Holding Baby covers a crisis where a grandparent is left taking responsibility for a young baby. In the tradition of social realist and community based drama, it reflects the real life stories of a growing number of connected persons or family members raising children who are not theirs by birth. The poetry collection Holding considers the personal response of the author, as a kinship carer, to that role's challenges and its rewards.

In the critical commentary issues around kinship care are considered together with the history of the writing and its context. A detailed account is offered of the stage production process, as well as problems and possibilities around reaching potential audiences for both play and poetry. The relationship between the direct focus of the script and the comparative subjectivity of the poetry is reflected on and discussed.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):