Bernie Warren

Photo of Bernie Warren in 2009

Dr. Bernie Warren (b. December 27, 1953) is an internationally respected researcher, writer and teacher on the role of the arts for persons with a disability, the arts in healthcare and therapy, and drama-in-education and community. He is attributed with coining the terms unique creative thumbprint and integrative theatre and is considered one of the world’s leading researchers on clown therapy (the work of clown doctors and hospital clowns).

Insisting that "life is not a straight line", Warren has worked as a teacher, artist and healer n various community, educational, institutional and theatrical settings around the world. His research and practice brings together his Eastern training (in Chinese and Japanese martial and healing arts) with his Western training (in psychology and the performing arts) in his work as a drama and movement specialist with children with disabilities, seniors and with people living with life-threatening conditions (e.g. cancer).

Background

Born in London, England, Warren began training to be a physician but later switched to study the performing arts and psychology earning his doctorate in 1985. In addition to his academic training, he studied physical theatre and dance as well as drama therapy, dance-movement therapy and psychodrama with some of the top teachers of the time in the UK, Europe, Canada and the United States. He worked with Ludus Dance Company as Deputy Director of “The Special Schools Project”, was the Co-Artistic Director (with Dr. George Mager) of 50/50 Integrative Theatre Company in Montreal and the Artistic Director of Prospero's Fools in Windsor.

For 30 years Warren has taught clowning to university students and professional artists. In 1988 he began grant-aided research into therapeutic laughter and clown therapy from which came his research on the work of Le Rire Medecin. In 2001, he created Fools for Health, a clown doctor company which runs programs across the lifespan in hospitals and health care facilities throughout southwestern Ontario, Canada. In 2003 Fools for Health began its familial-clown programs in seniors centres, working mainly with seniors with dementia for which they recently won an Ontario Trillium Foundation "Great Grant Award".

In addition to his training and expertise in the performing arts and drama in education and community, Warren has studied Eastern healing and martial arts for nearly 40 years, ten years of which were as an indoor student of a direct lineage Chinese master. He has taught Qigong and T'ai chi as areas of academic study and for health and recreation since 1990. In addition to classes for drama students, he teaches Qigong to a wide variety of groups including the Windsor-Essex Cardiac Program and several residential facilities for seniors.

Academic career

Prior to coming to Canada, Warren taught drama and dance in schools and colleges in England and Ireland. Since 1982 he has held full-time teaching positions at the University of Calgary, Concordia University in Montreal and in 1992 he joined the School of Dramatic Art at The University of Windsor.

During his extensive University teaching career, Warren has taught courses in acting, children’s play and development, developmental drama, drama therapy, movement and voice, research methodology and theatre for young audiences.

In 2001 Dr. Warren was the recipient of the University of Windsor's Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching. In 2007 Warren was nominated for a Premier's Discovery Award in the Social Sciences and Humanities, (a program which celebrates the research excellence of Ontario's finest senior researchers), and in 2009 was the recipient of the University of Windsor's Outstanding Faculty Research Award (Established Scholars/Researchers). He has been included in the Canadian Who's Who since 1994.

Warren is currently Professor of Drama in Education and Community in the School of Dramatic Art at the University of Windsor, Canada and Artistic Director of Fools for Health Clown-Doctor Programs, Windsor. He continues to work regularly in hospitals and health care facilities as Dr. Haven't-A-Clue.

Bibliography

The Clown-Doctor Chronicles

The Clown Doctor Chronicles is the first book in the English language to provide a close-up view of the emotional and rewarding experiences of clown-doctors working with hospitalised children. It describes the development of a new program by Le Rire Medecin (a Clown-doctor company located in Paris, France) in a pediatric hospital and all the challenges that confront clown-doctors. The book recounts work that takes place over a few months in 1999-2000. Most of the children that are described had been diagnosed with leukemia and other serious forms of cancer. They were hospitalized often and ran the risk of death.

This book is a tale of love and humor and of dealing with great traumas and tragedy. It tells of the immense compassion and the amazing resilience of individuals in the most stressful and debilitating of circumstances. It is a small window looking onto what it is to be human with all our strengths and frailties and of how complete strangers can become bonded to one another through laughter and pain.

The story presented here is based upon real case studies annotated with occasional commentaries to put these experiences into perspective. Above all else this book is a celebration and an homage to all the children, their parents and care-givers who have shared their lives with clown-doctors in many countries around the world.^[1]

Writing on Clown Doctors & Hospital Clowns

• Warren, B. (2010). Foolish Medicine: some connections between medieval fools and clown-doctors. Les cahiers de l'idiotie, 2(1), 145-162.
• Warren, B. (2009). Hi Jean! : How Clown-Doctors help facilitate infection control and positive health care practice. In Elliott, P. (Ed.), Infection control : A practical approach to psychosocial issues (pp 149–158). Abingdon, Oxon : Radcliffe Publishing.
• Warren, B. (2009). Spreading sunshine... down memory lane : how clowns working in healthcare help promote recovery and rekindle memories. In Baum, N.T. (Ed.), "Come to your senses: creating supportive environments to nurture the sensory capital within. (pp 37-44). Toronto : MukiBaum.
• Warren, B. (2008). The fools are come hither. Research in Drama in Education, 13(3), 365-369.
• Warren, B. (2008). Healing laughter: the role and benefits of Clown-Doctors working in hospitals and healthcare. "Using the creative arts in therapy and healthcare." (pp 213–228). London & New York : Routledge.
• Warren, B. (Ed.) (2006). "Suffering the Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune: International Perspectives on Stress, Laughter and Depression." Rodopi: Amsterdam & New York.
• Gervais, N., Warren, B. & Twohig, P. (2006). "Nothing Seems Funny Anymore: Studying Burnout in Clown Doctors." in Warren, B (Ed.) Suffering the Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune: International Perspectives on Stress, Laughter and Depression, (pp 177–192). Rodopi: Amsterdam & New York.
• Simonds, C. & Warren, B. (2004). "The Clown Doctor Chronicles." Rodopi: Amsterdam & New York.
• Warren, B. (2004). "Bring Me Sunshine: The Effects of Clown Doctors on the Mood and Attitudes of Health Care Staff" in Twohig, P. & Kalitzkus, V. (Eds.) Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Illness and Disease, pp 83–96. Rodopi: Amsterdam and New York.
• Warren, B. (2003). "Treating Wellness: How Clown Doctors Help to Humanise Healthcare and Promote Good Health" in Twohig, P. and Kalitzkus, V. (Eds.) Making Sense of Health, Illness and Disease, pp 201–216. Rodopi: Amsterdam & New York.
• Warren, B. (2002). "Fools for Health: Introducing Clown Doctors to Windsor Hospitals." in Warren, B (Ed.) Creating a Theatre in your Classroom and Community, pp 225–246. Captus University Publications: North York.
• Simonds, C. & Warren, B. (2001). "Le Rire Medecin: Le Journal de Dr. Girafe." Albin Michel: Paris, France.

(Reprinted by Le Rire Medecin Publications, Paris, 2009).

Writing on the Arts in Healthcare/Art Therapy

• Warren, B. (Ed). (2008). "Using the Creative Arts in Healthcare and Therapy." Routledge: London & New York.
• Warren, B. (2000). "Discovering Connections Between Eastern and Western Approaches to Promoting Health" in Turner, F. & Senior, P. (Eds.), A Powerful Force for Good: Culture, Health & the Arts - an Anthology, pp 60–62. Manchester Metropolitan University Press: Manchester.
• Warren B. (1993). "Using the Creative Arts in Therapy: A Practical Introduction (2nd Edition)." Routledge: London & New York.

Writing on the Arts and Disability

• Warren, B., Richard, R., & Brimbal J. (2005). "Drama and the Arts for Adults with Down Syndrome: Benefits, Options and Resources." Book 14 in the series Downs Syndrome Issues & Information: Adults with Down Syndrome. The Down Syndrome Education Trust: Portsmouth.
• Warren B. (1997). "Change and Necessity: Creative Activity, Well-being and the Quality of Life for Persons with a Disability." in Brown, R.I. (Ed) Quality of Life for People with Disabilities, pp 270–291. Stanley Thornes: London.
• Warren, B. (1996). "Drama Games: A Practical Introduction to Drama and Creative Activities for Leaders working with People of All Ages and Abilities." Captus Press: North York.
• Warren, B. (1989). "The Hidden Stage: The Role of Drama in Teaching the Unspoken Rules of Social Interaction." in Brown, R.I. & Chazan, M. (Eds) Emotional and Allied Issues in the Field of Disability (Selected Paper of the International Study Group on Special Educational Needs), pp 87–104. Detselig: Calgary.
• Warren, B. & Nadeau, R. (1987). "Enhancing the Quality of Life: The Role of the Arts in the Process of Rehabilitation." in Brown, R.I. (Ed) Quality of Life for Handicapped People, pp 184–213. Croom Helm: London.

Writing on Drama, Education and the Community

• Warren, B. (Ed) (2002). "Creating a Theatre in your Classroom and Community." Captus University Publications: North York.
• Robbie, S., Ruggirello, T. & Warren, B. (2001). "Using Drama to Bring Language to Life: Ideas, Games and Activities for Teachers of Languages and Language Arts." Captus University Press: North York.

Writing and Videos on Qigong and T'ai chi

• Warren, B. (2009). Sit, breathe, and smile : simple seated Qigong exercises to help reduce stress and promote health. In Baum, N.T. (Ed.), Come to your sense: creating supportive environments to nurture the sensory capital within (pp 55–64). Toronto : MukiBaum.
• Warren, B. (2008). Don't forget to breathe and smile : breathing exercises as warm-ups for arts activities in healthcare settings. "Using the creative arts in therapy and healthcare" (pp 19–30). London & New York : Routledge.
• Warren, B. (2001). "Relaxation Qigong: Seated Exercises for Stress Reduction and Better Health." University of Windsor Centre for Flexible Learning Production.
• Warren, B. (2000). "Discovering Connections Between Eastern and Western Approaches to Promoting Health". In Turner, F & Senior, P (Eds) A Powerful Force for Good: Culture, Health & the Arts - an Anthology, pp 60–62. Manchester Metropolitan University Press: Manchester.
• Warren, B. (1999). "Qigong for Better Health: Simple Seated and the Essential Eight Exercises." A Bear Moves Mountains Production.
• Warren, B. (1999). "Introduction to Qigong." University of Windsor Centre for Flexible Learning Production.
• Warren, B. (1999). "Introduction to Taiji/Pa Qua." University of Windsor Centre for Flexible Learning Production.
• Warren, B. (1998). "Qigong: Simple Standing and Walking Exercise to Promote Better Health and Well-Being." A Bear Moves Mountains Production.
• Warren, B. (1997). "Introduction to the Thirteen Kinetic Movements." A Bear Moves Mountains Production.
• Warren, B. (1996). "Seated Chi Kung and Tai Chi Exercises for Health." Hu Ling Instructional Video Series on the Work of Master George Ling Hu.
• Warren, B. (1996). "Chi Kung for Health: Swimming Dragon Chi Kung and 6 Simple Chi Kung Methods for Health." Hu Ling Instructional Video Series on the Work of Master George Ling Hu.

Notes

1. ^ Simonds, C & Warren, B. "The Clown Doctor Chronicles." Rodopi: Amsterdam & New York, 2004

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