Created by Charlie Hooper-Williams
For years my performance practice has been built around the system I’ve built to generate live visuals in response to my performance. In 2025 I asked “what if anyone could try this out?” The result was the first iteration of Play & See, which premiered at Arnolfini Bristol.
Through support from Bath Spa’s Studio Innovation Fund, I was able to partner with Art at the Heart of the RUH and their musician-in-residence Frankie Simpkins. We were very fortunate to cross paths with Designability as well, who brought their accessibility-design skills to build the physical housing for a unit that can move around the ward, looking welcoming to children.
“Play & See (Hospital Edition)” is a portable, single-user experience designed for inpatient users with no prior musical experience. There are several ways of interacting with it, making it accessible to people who might struggle to interact with a traditional musical keyboard.
I’m very happy with the initial feedback we’ve had from patients and their families, and look forward to continuing to develop the project. We are starting to talk to other hospitals and organisations interested in having their own unit.
Charlie Hooper-Williams
Play and See: Glow Moments
A Surprising Alternative
A teenager in the playroom had been trying to use the PlayStations, but unfortunately neither was working. When Play and See was initially offered as an alternative, they declined because they really wanted to play on the PlayStation. Once it became clear that the consoles weren’t going to work, they decided to give Play and See a try.
They ended up sitting at the unit and playing for a long time, becoming completely absorbed in the game and working through it all the way to completion. Their parent commented that they were really pleased to see them enjoying and engaging with something other than a games console. It was a lovely example of Play and See capturing the attention of someone who had initially shown no interest in it, and providing an enjoyable and engaging alternative.
A Moment of Confidence
Play and See was in the playroom when a shy young girl went over and began playing with it completely unprompted. Her curiosity gave us an opportunity to start chatting with her, and she soon announced that she played the ukulele. This led to us playing songs together, with other staff joining in with the singing. A younger patient then came in and began playing the percussion instruments alongside his dad.
In this moment, Play and See provided a gentle first step into musical interaction. It sparked the girl’s curiosity and helped her feel comfortable and confident enough to engage with us, ultimately leading to a shared musical experience.
Bringing Everyone Together
Play and See was particularly popular in the playroom one morning, with lots of children eager to have a turn. One girl became completely absorbed in one of the games, carefully working her way through to the end and making sure she played each correct note.
The unit also provided a valuable distraction for a very distressed child who was sitting on his mum’s lap. They began playing together, with his sisters joining in too, using the changing patterns and sounds on the screen to help distract and engage him. It became a shared experience for the whole family at a difficult moment.
A Chance to Play
A young sibling with additional needs and limited mobility was able to play Play and See, and it was wonderful to see his face visibly brighten as he discovered that he could make sounds and interact with the changing patterns on the screen.
He became very engaged with the unit, and his mum commented on what a brilliant idea she thought it was and how much her son, in particular, loved it. For him, Play and See provided an accessible opportunity to explore, create music and experience the joy of making something happen for himself.
“Play and See has been a wonderful addition to the Children’s Ward. As the Musician in Residence, I’ve seen how it can engage children who might otherwise feel unsure about interacting with me as a musician. For some children, having the opportunity to explore the technology first feels less daunting than being directly approached, giving them the freedom to engage with music in their own way and at their own pace.
What has been particularly lovely is seeing children’s confidence grow through using Play and See. Children who initially choose to play with it independently have gone on to talk to me about music, and then felt confident enough to play the ukulele or sing with me. I’ve also loved seeing children experience playing a piano for the very first time, with parents telling me that they’ve never played one before.
It has created some really special shared moments too, with children and their parents discovering and playing with it together. It’s not just the children who are fascinated by it either — staff have enjoyed having a go and discovering something new.
For me, Play and See is a really exciting way of opening the door to music. It offers children a gentle, playful first step into musical interaction, and it has been wonderful to see where that first interaction can lead.”
Frankie Simpkins, Musician in Residence