Robin has been developing his laughter-related work since 1999. Through his experience, Robin has learnt and devised techniques and developed a deeper understanding of the therapeutic power of laughter.
Currently Robin runs an Arts and Health project in the North West of England based on performance, photography, therapeutic laughter and laughter in businesses. Project partners have 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 has been piloting 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://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/journal/archive/graham.html), and his poetry performance show "Expressions of Joy". As part of the Arts and Health project, he is now developing plays about happiness and identity.
Robin has a broad range of experiences and diverse background. He has a physics degree form Imperial College, spent eight years in Marketing and Consultancy for IBM, is a shiatsu practitioner and teacher and writer. His own introduction to Laughter Clubs was through the International Art Of Living Foundation, a United Nations accredited NGO (http://www.artofliving.org).
He now mixes a scientific approach and analysis with contemporary creative ideas. As a writer, Robin is especially interested in theatricality, creating stories and performance pieces, and working with video artists, photographers, and performers. In 1999, he began Greenhouse Northwest Theatre Company to run creative community based projects including laughter events. He has travelled around the country giving laughter-based presentations and training sessions.
Robin is co-Founder of the Laughter Network.
With Rainbows of Laughter come laugh with me! Launch of the World Laughter Pledge : Saturday 30th August 1pm GMT
Remember how you feel after a good laugh? Now imagine how the World would feel if we all laughed together!
Initiated by World Laughter Master, Belachew Girma (Laughter Therapist in Ethiopia and world record holder for continuous laughter at over 3 hours), and World Laugher Robin Graham (UK based Therapist, piloting ‘Laughter on Prescription’, and co-Founder of The Laughter Network), the pledge aims to get people of the World laughing together at the same time every Saturday - for a few seconds or a few minutes.
Belachew is living testament that people can laugh despite adversity. His wife was HIV+ and died some years ago, and his business was destroyed twice - by fire and by flood. Yet he has established the Ethiopian Laughter Day with support from his government and uses Laughter as a tool for healing.
With laughter we can be happier and healthier and less stressed, with greater clarity, creativity and calmness to enable us to face life’s challenges more effectively. And laughter is a ‘Diplomacy Pass Key’ which can promote peace and joy.
On Saturday 30th August, people will be laughing in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Indian sub-continent and Australasia at 1pm GMT. Everyone can join in, wherever they are, on their own or in groups. Friends and family who live apart can link with laughter and remember each other.
How to start a laugh? You don’t need jokes! You might set an alarm for one minute before 1pm GMT, and focus on happy images and thoughts. If there are people with you, make eye contact with someone; otherwise if you like, look in a mirror! Then with every out breath, just gently chuckle. Let the smile cross your face and let the laughter grow! Take a few seconds to take a step back from everyday life. We can change this World with laughter! We can cross this World with rainbows of laughter!
Inspired by the play, ‘A Different Place’: “Every week from today, at exactly this time, I will stand on a street corner wherever I am, and laugh. I give you my word. And if you choose to, you can laugh with me. We can cross this World with laughter. We can change this World with laughter. I give you my word'.http://blackboard.lincoln.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/users/dmeyerdinkgrafe/archive/graham.html
For more information contact: Robin Graham +44-161-831-9385 or +44-7930-570140, robin@writelaugh.co.uk or visit www.worldlaughterpledge.org
It only needs us to make the choice. So let’s do it! Every Saturday for a few seconds or minutes, across the World at 1pm GMT