Hercules stars lift spirits at Evelina London

Disney and MediCinema brought music and excitement to Evelina London Children's Hospital with a special visit from the West End cast of Hercules and Disney teaching artists. 

The teaching artists kicked off the visit with a series of music and movement sessions on wards, featuring songs from  Hercules. Children and young people joined in with rhythmic clapping, call and response singing, storytelling and light dance movements adapted for all abilities. Excitement built as everyone waited for the cast to arrive, and soon the actors were out on the wards meeting patients at their bedsides. 

Later, children and young people, families and staff members gathered around the grand piano in the hospital's atrium for a meet and greet with the cast followed by more singing and dancing led by the teaching artists. Everyone received a special  Hercules  gift to take with them.   

5‑year‑old Sienna had been looking forward to the visit all morning, especially after taking part in a Hercules‑themed arts and crafts session that morning.

Sienna's mum, Claire, said: "Sienna loved the visit. The cast members came right to her bedside and it was such a brilliant distraction from being in hospital.

She loved singing along with the teaching artists and meeting the characters, she hasn't stopped talking about Meg's amazing purple dress since!

To round off the day, children and young people were invited to watch the Disney film Hercules at  the  pop-up MediCinema at St Thomas' Hospital.  

Sue Pruden, therapeutic play service manager for Evelina London Children's Hospital, said: "Visits like these are invaluable for our young patients and their families. 

"The Hercules cast members and Disney teaching artists brought a bit of West End magic to the hospital, spreading joy and music wherever they went. By visiting children at their bedsides, as well as holding a cast meet-and-greet and a teaching artists' performance in our atrium, they offered patients, families and staff across the hospital a chance to join the fun."

The visiting cast included Jordan Livesey as Hades, Ellie Mitchell as Hera, Ope Sowande as Phil, and Mae Ann Jorolan as Meg. 

Ope said:

I was truly inspired by the courageous and brave young people I had the pleasure of meeting. The enjoyment and excitement we were met with was a feeling I'll never forget. I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity.

MediCinema is a national charity running 8 fully accessible hospital cinemas across the UK, including one at Guy's Hospital and a pop-up at St Thomas' Hospital (on the same site as Evelina London Children's Hospital). The service is supported by funding from Guy's & St Thomas' Charity and comes at no cost to patients or the NHS.