Ward 76

The story begins during a sudden power outage in a hospital, throwing everything into chaos. Three teenage patients, who have only just met, team up to search for WiFi and find themselves on an unexpected journey through the hospital’s hidden spaces. What starts as a hunt for signal becomes a humorous, heartfelt adventure with a hint of ghost-story mystery, as the characters encounter strange happenings, face their fears and form genuine friendships along the way.

Through humour, moments of horror and honest conversation, Ward 76 explores themes including anxiety, disability, loneliness, social media pressures and the realities of growing up in a medical environment. The play is led by disabled artist Sam and his mother Shirley, and is rooted in their lived experience of Sam “growing up” in hospital.

Themes explored

• Anxiety and mental health

• Disability and access

• Loneliness and friendship

• Social media and online pressure

• Growing up in a medical environment

Learning resources (included)

• A4 student booklet (printed/downloaded)

• Reflection questions and activities linked to the play

• Access to a dedicated project website, including:

• Character profiles

• Accessible information about the medical conditions featured

• Signposting to relevant support organisations

• A downloadable zine-making workshop exploring the play’s themes

• Zine activity suitable for PSHE, tutor time or performing arts sessions

Performance details

• Performance length: 50 minutes

Zine workshop : Optional

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Host or Publisher Rochdale Events