Playwriting as a creative research tool, with Stacey Moon-Tracy
Can playwriting be a form of care, not just for audiences, but for those whose stories we tell?
In this episode, we explore how writing a PhD became both an academic research project and a deeply moving act of creative healing for the healthcare workers and ICU nurses involved in Critical Care. We go behind the scenes of the project, tracing its journey from the initial spark of an idea to its powerful realisation on stage. Along the way, we also discuss the realities of freelancing in the arts, including the highs, the hurdles, and what it really takes to secure Arts Council funding.
This episode is dedicated to all those working within our NHS. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.
Thank you for listening,
Stay wild
Copyright 2025 Lucy Colgan
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About the Host:
Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.
She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled' in creative life, combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.
Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!
Over the last 20 years, Stacey Moon-Tracy (@staceymoontracy) has worked in a variety of educational and community settings as a freelance drama workshop leader, university lecturer, playwright and director. She is currently in the final stages of completing her PhD at Coventry University, where she has focused on using playwriting as Arts Based Practice to explore the COVID-19 experiences and ethical dilemmas of ICU Nurses. Her latest work, 'Critical Care', is an act of care towards nurses and a way of amplifying their experiences for a wider audience. She has recently received Arts Council England funding and is working towards developing a full stage production of the play.
Twitter:@StaceyMoonTrac2/ @CCPlayscript
Instagram: Stacey Moon-Tracy (@staceymoontracy) • Instagram photos and videos
Email: staceymariemoon@hotmail.co.uk & tracys@coventry.ac.uk
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