What's the title of the PROJECT?
This is a short film called ‘LGBTQ+ Cancer Care: Telling Our Stories’.
What's the project about?
We’re making a short film to shine a light on the experiences of LGBTQ+ cancer patients in the NHS (the good, not so good and how things could be improved). We are based at the Whittington Health NHS Trust in North London.
Can you help us?
We want to:
- Showcase the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals during cancer care.
- Empower clinicians with the tools and insights to create better patient experiences.
This film will premiere at an NHS conference in 2025, where it will help shape the future of inclusive cancer care. The film will also be used for staff training at our Trust and beyond.
Who's behind this project?
This is a collaboration between:
- Wake The Beast Theatre Company (that’s us, Adam McGuigan and team!)
- Tracey Palmer from Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Casey Galloway, Macmillan Personalised Cancer Care Project Manager
We’ve been working for seven years with Macmillan, using theatre and creativity to support cancer patients. Our award-winning C Factor programme has already made a huge difference, but we have seen a gap in the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community and this new project is about increasing the support available for LGBTQ+ patients.
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and have received cancer care from any NHS trust —or you’re an NHS staff member with experience supporting LGBTQ+ patients at any NHS trust —we’d love to hear from you!
wHAT WILL I NEED TO DO?
It’s simple! You’ll:
- Take part in a short, confidential conversation (a very informal conversation/ chat). Which will be recorded (just for transcribing).
- Help us understand your experiences, challenges, and what made a difference for you.
Conversations can be in person or on Zoom. No pressure, no cameras in your face—it’s all about creating something meaningful together.
We will use verbatim sections from the conversations for inclusion in the film, but we will always anonymise content and check first if people are comfortable with their words being used.
hOW CAN i TAKE PART?
Email us to let us know you’re interested, and we’ll work out a time that suits you.
Not sure if it’s for you? That’s okay! Get in touch, and we can have a quick chat to see if it’s the right fit.
By sharing your story, you’re not just helping us—you’re helping to make cancer care more inclusive and understanding for LGBTQ+ people everywhere.