The date for the next Symposia is the 9th and 10th May 2026
Venue:The Ship’s Studio, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon
Location:
Dartington Hall, Ship Studio
Date:
May Sat 9th May and Sunday 10th May
Reengaging the body; a writing and performance workshop
This 2-day symposium titled “Re-Engaging the Body” is part conference and part workshop and has multiple aims. For some delegates, it provides an opportunity to share their research and gain valuable feedback. For others, its sharing an unfinished manuscript, thesis or other creative work and being given support and guidance towards completing. For some delegates the space provides an opportunity to try something in a supportive environment, and for others its just being in a creative space with experienced knowledgable colleagues and session leaders. What ever your reason…
We invite you to share your research in a supportive, responsive environment and then to engage in creative exploration with others through three modes of artistic expression: writing, sound, and embodiment. Our purpose is to gather creative people into a nurturing space that fosters playful experimentation and that values what bodies can achieve together. We will provide opportunities to be inspired and motivated in sharing your work, to expand creative potential through facilitated workshops, to be refreshed by the beauty of the gardens and environs, and to strengthen community by sharing meals, performances, walks and possibilities with one another.
While delegates are invited to present their research/work, as well as to receive feedback if desired, such public presentation is not a requirement for attendance. We grow equally from listening and responding to others, from informal conversation, and from quiet reflection. There are many ways to engage and to participate, and we invite you to do so through whatever form is most useful and comfortable for you.
Below one delegate reflects on her experience at the symposia
Taking a moment this morning to reflect on and commit to memory the wonderful ‘reengaging the body symposium / workshops that I have just attended at the beautiful Dartington Estate (Devon) thanks to Boomerang project’s Kirtrina Douglas, David Carless and Gayle Letherby.
– Tracy Dr Tracey Collett (She/her)
Associate Professor in the Sociology of Health and Illness
Co-chair Behavioural and Social Sciences Teaching in Medicine Network BeSST
Peninsula Medical School
Faculty of Health
University of Plymouth
The aim of this annual two day event is to share research in a supportive responsive environment and then engage in creative exploration through sound, writing and embodiment. Set In the grounds of Dartington, the beautiful Ship Studio, (with its high beamed ceilings and wooden floors, sunlight streaming through the windows) is a prefect venue. The combination of this and the provision of tea, coffee and amazing homemade snacks as well as music at the beginning of each day session, (often live from David), created the perfect relaxing space. I love the bold commitment of Kitrina, David and Gayle to the embodied experience: every story matters, every person matters. The use of a circle to face each other, taking time at the beginning of the day to breath and be silent. Taking time to be grateful, Gayle’s fantastic creative writing activities – all of this bought us out of ourselves and got us thinking about our research in new richer ways. I felt as if a cloud lifted and I was free to think. I am grateful that Kitrina, David and Gayle’s networks are wide and draw people in from different walks of life and different places. I learned so much about others’ projects (not just the subject but the process too) from coaching football, how illness and disability disrupts the life course, working in prisons, masculinities, changing blue food systems, film making, time, participatory research in the community, barriers to research, aspects of medical practice and more. I turned up feeling burnt out from a term’s teaching and anxious about news that unis are laying people off and broader global politics, a bit depressed if I’m honest. Today I feel happier, rejuvenated and full of purpose. Thank you so much everyone.
Delegate numbers for the symposia are limited, and will be allocated on first come bases. If you would like additional information, or if you would like to a place please download and complete the attached form
The cost of participating is £190 and includes:
- Two day workshop facilitated by Gayle Letherby, Kitrina Douglas and David Carless
- Opportunity to present your work and gain feedback
- Morning coffee, afternoon tea and cake each day
- Lunch on both days*
- Evening performances on the 9th May
- Symposia
- Evening gathering for those travelling down on the Friday with supper on the 8th May
- Bring and share dessert on the Saturday evening
*If you have any food allergies or special dietary request please contact the organisers asap
We intend to have a “bring and share” dessert and coffee on the Saturday evening along with an ‘open mic’ style performances, if you are able to being something to share great, but please don’t worry if you can’t, there will be plenty for us all.
The cost does not include travel and accomodation, the latter of which can be booked directly with Dartington https://www.dartington.org/visit/stay/ where accommodation ranges from £40 per night for hostel accommodation in the grounds, to £140 per night in Dartington Hall, there are also clamping and camping options on site. There are also lots of other types of accommodation near Dartington and in Totnes, and we encourage delegates to explore these through airbnb and bookings.com.
Facilitators
The workshop sessions are facilitated by experienced academics who have all been pioneers of creative methodologies in their work, having published and performed in myriad forms within academic and social communities.
David Carless
My transdisciplinary research seeks to generate new insights into contemporary challenges in health and society. I work from the indigenous philosophy that to understand a phenomenon we must understand it across all four aspects of our being: mind, body, emotion and spirit. This holistic way of knowing inspires students, informs professionals, opens new possibilities for action, extends cultural horizons and mobilises social change. I work towards this through research methodologies that support multisensory engagement, such as arts-based, autoethnographic and narrative approaches. The processes and products of this work incorporate collaborative or co-produced storytelling, filmmaking, music and performance that is engaging and accessible for diverse audiences.
This work is disseminated internationally through keynotes, conference presentations, live performances and invited seminars and is published as peer-reviewed journal articles, films, books and book chapters.
For additional information http://davidcarless.org.uk
David Carless YouTube
Gayle Letherby
I am Visiting Professor at the Universities of Plymouth, Greenwich and Bath (specifically at Bath within the Centre for Death Studies (CDAS)). Alongside substantive interests in the meanings and experiences of love, reproductive and non/parental (especially non/mother) identities; gender, health and wellbeing; death, loss and bereavement; travel and transport mobility; gender and identity within institutions; and solitude.
I have always been fascinated by research methodology, including auto/biographical, feminist and creative practices. In recent years I have become interested in writing sociologically for non-academic audiences and creative writing within academic work.
For some examples of different sorts of writing see https://www.abctales.com/user/gletherby
Kitrina Douglas
Broadly speaking my research is in the area of mental health, however, the research projects David and I have been involved with have provoked us to find ways to communicate our research beyond traditional academic reporting channels and in ways that account for and include somatic, pre-linguistic knowing. To this end we publish our research as films, documentaries, and musical theatre, in addition to written peer reviewed publications, magazine articles, on-line publications and books.
With David I also direct and produce the on-line qualitative research series “Qualitative Conversations”.
David Carless and I have co-author of two monographs, Sport and Physical Activity for Mental Health and Life story research in sport: A narrative approach to understanding the experiences of elite and professional athletes (Routledge). https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWCTy8bNOY6JlvX_yg-Uig and are editors of the upcoming “Autoethnography Pedagogy and Practice: Stories of interdisciplinary innovation” https://www.routledge.com/Autoethnography-Pedagogy-and-Practice-Stories-of-Interdisciplinary-Innovation/Douglas-Carless/p/book/9781032692296?srsltid=AfmBOop84Q7g0IPLRdIZQhEK6XQZsBRpj_ABAmq3fnpGjmRcy_XI9M_J
Atoethnography Pedagogy and Practice-Stories of Interdisciplinary Innovation
University West London https://www.uwl.ac.uk/staff/kitrina-douglas
Terms and conditions
Prices are in UK pounds
Please pay by BACS
The registration fees DO NOT cover insurance, travel, or accommodation other than where explicitly stated. (Travel insurance is recommended by the organisers.)
People who must cancel their registration are eligible for a refund up to 1st May, 2026. A £20 cancellation fee will apply.
After 1st May there is NO REFUND available for any reason. Please understand that after that date costs have already accrued.