Name: Robin Graham
Work Areas: Manchester based, working in all areas of the UK
Services: Arts and Health specialist, Trainer, Teacher, Performance Poet, Playwright and Laughter Facilitator
Web: robin.graham@laughternetwork.co.uk, www.writelaugh.co.uk
Contact: 0161 831 9385 Mobile: 07930 570 140

Summary: Arts and Health specialist, Performance Poet, Playwright, Teacher and Laughter Facilitator

Personal statement: Robin has been developing his laughter-related work since 1999.  Through his experience, Robin has learnt and devised techniques and developed a deeper understanding of the therapeutic power of laughter. 

Currently Robin runs an Arts and Health project in the North West of England based on performance, photography, therapeutic laughter and laughter in businesses.  Project partners include Arts Council England North West, Wyre Borough, Salford Borough, Arts for Health at Manchester Metropolitan University, greenroom theatre and Arts And Business. 

As part of this, Robin has been piloting a “Laughter On Prescription” scheme with Surestart in Fleetwood, using laughter as a tool to address depression.
As a writer Robin has explored laughter through his play, "A Different Place" (http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/journal/archive/graham.html), and his poetry performance show "Expressions of Joy".  As part of the Arts and Health project, he is now developing plays about happiness and identity.

Robin has a broad range of experiences and diverse background. He has a physics degree form Imperial College, spent eight years in Marketing and Consultancy for IBM, is a shiatsu practitioner and teacher and writer.   His own introduction to Laughter Clubs was through the International Art Of Living Foundation, a United Nations accredited NGO (http://www.artofliving.org). 

He now mixes a scientific approach and analysis with contemporary creative ideas. As a writer, Robin is especially interested in theatricality, creating stories and performance pieces, and working with video artists, photographers, and performers. In 1999, he began Greenhouse Northwest Theatre Company to run creative community based projects including laughter events. He has travelled around the country giving laughter-based presentations and training sessions.