The arts can be a cure for many things, as we know. A doctor in Rio de Janeiro is taking the idea seriously, giving his mental patients regular doses of Shakespeare.

"We can work on emotions, identities, family relationships, memories, cultural relationships. By exploring, reflecting, debating, we can decrease the power and mental weight of frightening thoughts and images lurking in a person's mind," he explains. For him Shakespeare's archetypical characters and exploration of states of mind are particularly useful.

Many of the patients from the Nise da Silveira Psychiatric Hospital have diagnoses of severe schizophrenia and chronic psychosis. Vitor Pordeus believes that theatre routines, singing and chanting rituals can treat his patients' mental health problems better than conventional drugs.

"Theatre is healing as it allows you go deeper into a person's story," says drama therapist Nadya Trytan, president of the North American Drama Therapy Association. Drama therapy allows people to play different roles that allow them to project different feelings and thoughts, and can act as a rehearsal for real life situation to aid reintegration into society.