4 PORTRAITS
The people behind the doors of 12 hospitals
Four portrait arias, performed by four fictional characters;
The Patient, The Manager, The Midwife and The Porter.
Created by composer Hannah Conway and writer Hazel Gould after spending five months of creative research, conversation and reflection in twelve hospitals across England.
Each character is a composite of the many hours of conversations with patients, staff and visitors, exploring what it means to have a voice, how we make ourselves heard and how we listen to others in hospitals.
THE MANAGER
A woman who deals with numbers and spreadsheets. She knows that every statistic tells a story.
THE MANAGER
A woman who deals with numbers and spreadsheets. She knows that every statistic tells a story.
THE MIDWIFE
A dedicated listener, she has learned to understand languages beyond the spoken word.
THE MIDWIFE
A woman who deals with numbers and spreadsheets. She knows that every statistic tells a story.
4 PORTRAITS
Music by Hannah Conway
Words by Hazel Gould
THE PATIENT
Voice – Gerald Finley
Piano – Allyson Devenish
Recording Engineer – Alexander Van Ingen
THE MANAGER
Voice – Nazan Fikret
Electronic track producer – Jack Ross
Recording Engineer – Tom Lewington
THE MIDWIFE
Voice – Alice Zawadzki
Piano – Hannah Conway
Recording Engineer – Alexander Van Ingen
THE PORTER
Voice – Benson Wilson
Piano – Allyson Devenish
Double Bass – Kate Brookes
Recording Engineer – Alexander Van Ingen
4 PORTRAITS is a project created by SOUND VOICE in partnership with University College London Hospitals, University Hospitals Bristol & Weston, Cambridge University Hospitals and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts.
The project has been funded by ACE England and supported by PENTAX Medical.
With thanks to Kings Place and Floating Earth Studios.
With special thanks to everyone who contributed their voices; staff, visitors and patients at the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Macmillan Cancer Centre, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Elizabeth Garett Hospital, University College Hospital, National Hospital for Ear Nose and Throat, University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (Bristol Royal Infirmary and St Michael’s Hospital), Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s Hospital, The Rosie Hospital) and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Preston Royal Infirmary and Chorley Hospital, Preston).
