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the making of....Dr Hills Casebook - this short video presents a fascinating insight into this heritage, wellbeing and theatre project.

Report on BBC Look East of Dr. Hills’ Casebook - shown Tuesday 20th October 2020

Dr Hills Casebook is an archives, theatre and wellbeing project aimed at improving the wellbeing of people in South Norfolk living with mental health challenges, and to stimulate public conversation, comparing past and present treatments.

The project is a partnership between UpShoot Theatre Company the Restoration Trust, Norfolk Record Office, and South Norfolk and Broadland District Council.

Participants will join a programme of research, learning and creativity utilising the archives of Norfolk Lunatic Asylum while Dr William
Hills was Medical Superintendent (1861-1887). These records, among them Dr Hills’ own journals, give a remarkable insight into 19th century care of the mentally ill.

Participants taking part in this project will undertake research into patients of the Norfolk County Asylum, between 1861-1887. This research was planned to take place at the Norfolk Records Office (NRO), but because of current restrictions on meetings, we will be facilitating online meetings, telephone & email discussions with participants, until such time that we can convene at NRO. We believe there are some potential benefits for participants in our revised plans, offering earlier involvement, gradual relationship building, exploring different ways to be involved, looking at archive material and meeting & connecting with others involved.

Attached is a key document developed by our research coordinator (Richard Johnson), Dr Hills’ Casebook, this Aide-Memoire gives a fascinating insight into the man who inspired us to develop this project. The original plan was for the Upshoot Theatre Company, under Dr. Hills’ Casebook coordinator and producer Darren France, to tour the play around local theatres and community venues. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this plan has been repurposed to film the play in the style of a ‘livestream’ event, with the camera, moving around the space in a way you just can’t experience when you see a play. This change has been an unexpected bonus, as a recording of the play will have a much longer life than a theatrical production. Currently, screenings are planned as far ahead as October 2021.

Dr Hills Casebook is based on the successful Change Minds (www.changeminds.org.uk) methodology, where over the course of 3 programmes since 2015 with people in
North Norfolk and Norwich, participation in archives and creativity has been shown to benefit mental wellbeing. This project fits with health and wellbeing
strategies at all levels that focus on person-centred care, early intervention and mental wellbeing.