Name: Robin Graham

Work Areas: Manchester based, working in all areas of the UK and overseas

Services: Corporate, Community, Conference and health events, training and workshops

Web: robin.graham@laughternetwork.co.uk, www.writelaugh.co.uk

Contact: 0161 831 9385

Mobile: 07930 570 140

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

Personal statement: Robin has been developing his laughter-related work since 1999. He has been learning and devising techniques and gaining a deeper understanding of the therapeutic power of laughte, and created training courses for the Laughter Network.

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

Robin ran an Arts and Health project in the North West of England based on performance, poetry, photography, therapeutic laughter and laughter in businesses.  Project partners included 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 piloted 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://blackboard.lincoln.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/users/dmeyerdinkgrafe/archive/graham.html ) , and his poetry performance show "Expressions of Joy".  Robin is especially interested in theatricality, creating stories, and working with video artists, photographers, and performers. In 1999, he set up Greenhouse Northwest Theatre Company to run creative community based projects and laughter based events.

He now mixes a scientific approach and analysis with contemporary creative ideas. He has travelled around the country and overseas giving laughter-based presentations and training sessions. In 2008 he set up the World Laughter Pledge with World Laughter Master Belachew Girma in Ethiopia and Dr Santosh Sahi in India ( www.worldlaughterpledge.org ).

Robin is co-Founder and Trustee of the Laughter Network.