The document provides initial ideas and inspirations for a project exploring attitudes towards mental health through a play-within-a-play concept. It discusses how films like Titicut Follies and Marat/Sade inspired the idea, as well as research into the history of asylums from Foucault's work and the Bedlam performance. Elements from Peter Brook's Tempest and Phantom of the Opera influenced character ideas, while One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest gave costume inspiration. Social and cultural factors in rising mental health were also examined. Blanche Dubois served as inspiration for the character Miranda.

1. Titicut Follies, initial idea
Titicut Follies is a 1967 American Documentary film directed by Frederick Wiseman,
about the patient inmates of Bridgewater state hospital for the criminally insane,
Massachusetts.

2. Titicut Follies I used as a starting point and initial inspiration for my project.
The title of the film is of a talent show put on by the inmates.

3. Marat/Sade
Inspired me to explore the
change in attitudes towards
mental health .
The play The Persecution
and Assassination of Jean-
Paul Marat as Performed by
the Inmates of the Asylum
of Charenton Under the
Direction of the Marquis de
Sade.
Play with in a play idea.

4. Michael Foucault,
Researched my topic with his book, Madness and Civilisation

5. Bedlam, performed at Shakespeare's globe, piece based on London's notorious 18th century
Bedlam Hospital. This piece of theatre I came across whilst researching my focused research.
It helped me image my concept clearer in my head, and gave me something to relate too.

6. Peter brook, The Tempest 1968
Peter Brook demonstrated a unorthodox way of representing The Tempest on
stage, including the use of tiny ship models for the storm scene while the cast
members sit on a kind of trapeze above the turmoil.
Suggested to me ideas of a alternative way to present Shakespeare's work.

7. Phantom of the opera
An example of negative connotations towards disfigurement in media, and can relate to the
isolation I want my character of Caliban to feel.

8. One flew over the cuckoos nest
I watched this as initial research, as also it gave me an idea for the costume. I would like all of the patients to be dressed exactly
the same for both men and women, the only difference is Caliban’s costume would be black, and Prospero would wear doctors
uniform.

9. Social Pressure
Is social pressure
the reason
mental health has
risen?
I looked at things
in our culture
which I believe
could be related
to the rise in
mental health for
example,
Recession, image,
money, power
etc.

10. Inspiration for
Miranda
Finally, I
researched
fragile women
for my
inspiration for
Miranda and a
key person for
me was Blanche
Dubois, A Street
Car Named
Desire.