Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System: Research-based musical satire goes digital

Authors

  • Sara Kreindler University of Manitoba

Keywords:

research-based theatre, arts-based knowledge translation, health policy, digital media, emergency department, patient access

Abstract

Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System is a research-based satirical musical tackling fundamental health policy issues. This companion text describes Larry’s content, style, and educational intent. It also tells the story of the piece’s development, including its pivot to video due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its evolution following initial audience reception.

Author Biography

Sara Kreindler, University of Manitoba

is a health-systems researcher, composer / lyricist, and playwright. During this project, she held the Manitoba Research Chair in Health System Innovation at the University of Manitoba.

References

Beck, J. L., Belliveau, G., Lea, G. W., & Wager, A. (2011). Delineating a spectrum of research-based theatre. Qualitative Inquiry, 17(8), 687–700. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800411415498

Belliveau, G., & Lea, G. W. (Eds.). (2016). Research-based theatre: An artistic methodology. Intellect.

Bore, I.-L. K., & Reid, G. (2014). Laughing in the face of climate change? Satire as a device for engaging audiences in public debate. Science Communication, 36(4), 454–478. https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547014534076

Day, A. (2011). Satire and dissent: Interventions in contemporary political debate. Indiana University Press.

Kreindler, S. A. (2023, February 9). Larry saves the Canadian healthcare system — The musical (complete) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7weVo2qV0

Kreindler, S. A., Hunter, M., Lea, G. W., Archibald, M., Rieger, K., West, C., & Hasan, S. M. (2024). Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: A multi-method reception study of Larry saves the Canadian healthcare system. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10512-9

Kreindler, S. A., Schull, M. J., Rowe, B. H., Doupe, M. B., & Metge, C. J. (2021). Despite interventions, emergency flow stagnates in urban Western Canada. Healthcare Policy, 16(4), 70–83. http://doi.org/10.12927/hcpol.2021.26498

Rainbow, R. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. Retrieved April 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/@RandyRainbowOfficial

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Published

2025-05-31

How to Cite

Kreindler, S. (2025). Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System: Research-based musical satire goes digital. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 59(1), 234–238. Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/10270

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 1 (2025): Research-based Theatre Special Issue

Section

Notes from the Field

License

Copyright (c) 2025 McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

License

Copyright (c) 202X McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.