New funding to test the power of storytelling in cancer care
Published: 30 June 2026
Beatson Cancer Charity supports innovative UofG research into storytelling’s role in cancer care
A Waiting Game, a verbatim play drawn from breast cancer testimonies, has secured funding to explore its therapeutic potential for people living with all cancers.
Lori Delaney while working on her PhD worked along with others with lived experience of breast cancer, to create the play which explores the real, often untold stories of breast cancer.
The expanded research, funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity, will allow Ms Delaney along with Professor Sara Macdonald, to build on the original work and extend the scope to at how the play might be relevant to people living with cancer more broadly.
The focus of this research will be to explore the play’s potential as a supportive tool for patients, particularly in terms of sharing experiences and reflecting on the emotional side of cancer. Expanding the work in this way will help the research team better understand how it might be used in different contexts and with a wider range of patients.It will also explore how real patient stories can inform and improve the ways medical professional engage with those with lived experience of cancer.
Ms Delaney, a theatre practitioner was diagnosed at 33 in 2020 with breast cancer mid-way through her Masters at Glasgow, which led to her firstly creating a performance installation about her experiences of chemotherapy during Covid. She then used her PhD to explore the issues further, interviewing 40 people internationally with lived experience of breast cancer which led to the co-creation of A Waiting Game.
Speaking on the funding from the Beatson, Ms Delaney said: “We had fantastic feedback on the play from medics and people with lived experience of cancer. It really had quite a lot of impact and resonated with the people.
“We realised how much more of an impact we could have. This latest research will see the play performed again over three to four showings and inviting people with lived experience of all cancers to take part. We also hope that it will ensure the play gets out to a lot more people.
“Afterwards we will run three blocks of workshops to co-create with people and explore their lived experience of cancer. The final part will be a two-day festival where people can, if they choose, share their work and take ownership of their own story.”
Professor Macdonald, a General Practice and Primary Care researcher focused on health inequalities and patient experience, based at the University’s School of Health & Wellbeing, said: “Through the play we want to see what its therapeutic potential is. We know social prescribing, the idea of being engaged in something with people who are experiencing the same things as you, can be very valuable but it is not very well evaluated, particularly in the arts space.
“A Waiting Game offers us a great opportunity for us as researchers to help create a model that could be used again and again for people with lived experience of cancer.”
Gillian Hailstones, CEO of Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “Beatson Cancer Charity is pleased to support this research exploring the therapeutic potential of storytelling and creative practice in cancer care. A Waiting Game offers a valuable opportunity to understand how real lived experience, shared through performance, can help people reflect on the emotional aspects of cancer and share their experiences in a supportive setting.
“This research will also help build understanding of how such approaches might be used as a supportive tool alongside other forms of care, and how patient narratives can inform and improve how healthcare professionals engage with people affected by cancer. We are pleased to support work that keeps lived experience at its heart while contributing to a stronger evidence base for arts in health.”
A Waiting Game will be performed at The Boardwalk Theatre, Glasgow (29, 30 and 31st July at 7.30pm); The Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine (2 August at 7.30pm); The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (5 August at 7.30pm) and East Kilbride Arts Centre (7 August at 7.30pm).
This will be followed by post-performance workshops with interested audience members with lived experience of cancer. These sessions will facilitate the co-production of a series of participatory arts-based outputs. Participants will be able to choose from a range of creative mediums, including theatre, digital storytelling and installation.
It is hoped that these outputs will be relevant to individuals with lived experience as well as stakeholders such as researchers, healthcare professionals and cancer charities. However, the primary focus of these workshops will be on the therapeutic value of the creative process itself to offer a space for expression, reflection and connection.
Ms Delany also spoke to TV presenter Laura Boyd, the host of ”Beatson Talks” podcast about the project. The episode is live today (Tuesday 30 June 2026).
About A Waiting Game
Based on nearly 40 interviews, community workshops, and Lori’s own personal journey with breast cancer, A Waiting Game shows what illness really looks like - messy, complicated and continuing long after treatment ends.
The play was co-creative with a range of people with lived experience of cancer. From these interviews, Lori held in person drama workshops with a group of women in Glasgow with breast cancer.
Lori and team used the interview transcripts to decide what themes were crucial to really demonstrate the diverse disruptive nature of the disease and create the play.
Among the actors were some of the people whose interviews helped creative the play.
It was premiered in May 2025 with support from the University of Glasgow College of Arts & Humanities and the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts & Humanities.
A Waiting Game will be performed at:-
- The Boardwalk Theatre, Glasgow (29, 30 and 31st July at 7.30pm);
- The Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine (2 August at 7.30pm);
- The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock (5 August at 7.30pm)
- East Kilbride Arts Centre (7 August at 7.30pm).
Beatson Talks
In "Beatson Talks", host Laura Boyd brings you powerful and insightful conversations that delve into the heart of cancer research, support services, and personal stories from the Beatson Cancer Charity community. Lori Delaney appears in the latest episode which went live today (Tuesday 30 June 2026) and which can be accessed here.
First published: 30 June 2026