Born, adopted and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Brian Stanton currently makes his living as a stage actor based in Los Angeles, California. He received his MFA in Acting at California Institute of the Arts. Beyond theatre, Stanton recently received a Certificate for Psychedelic- Informed Practice, Harm Reduction and Integration from Psychedelics Today’s Vital Education Program. Theatrically, Stanton is most known for his award-winning, original solo play BLANK and his award-winning, original film @ghostkingdom (pronounced “at ghost kingdom”), two personal pieces exploring the complicated & emotional truths of his adoption experience. BLANK, a journey in search of identity, premiered in Hollywood in 2010 and toured North America for a decade garnering critical acclaim along the way. @ghostkingdom, an exploration of the search for biological relatives, screened at film festivals and is currently available on- demand on Vimeo. An upcoming screening of the film will be Feb. 8 for the Adoption Healing Quest in Seal Beach, CA with an online option where a Q&A with Brian will follow the film. Both the play and film have played for numerous foster/adoption support organizations helping to spread awareness and education. Witnessing the healing and transformative power of the theatre in this light as well as his personal vested interest in the psychedelic community, Stanton was inspired to bridge the worlds of theatre and psychedelic therapy with his business Psychetheatrics where he plans to offer holistic acting workshops as a creative means for personal development.
Colloquium Presentation: 17th January 2025 (Mood Disorder centre G17, Sir Henry Wellcome building)
Psychetheatrics: Theatre as a Holistic, Psychedelic Art
Abstract
The fourth wall is a theatrical term describing an invisible wall between the audience and the actors. This wall became more prominent in the 1950s with the rise of realistic “kitchen sink dramas” further separating the spectators from performers. Much of our lived experience today, professionally and socially, is in front of a screen, a literal fourth wall that continues to rear isolation and disconnection. Walls now seem to be appearing everywhere in society even within families, between loved ones and within ourselves. However, with the reemergence of psychedelics as therapy and the booming business of the Wellness industry, it’s clear we’re pining for a deeper connection. I propose that, while working in tandem with psychedelic exploration, the art of theatre can help knock down these walls, including its very own self-proclaimed fourth wall. With this presentation that will include a brief interactive exercise, I will prove that theatre is indeed psychedelic, a mind & soul manifesting, holistic art that brings people together as a community for an expressive experience involving the mind, body and spirit. As timeless as the first fires of our civilization, the art of storytelling has always been there for us to explore, understand and question our very existence. Afterall, the purpose of Theatre is, as Hamlet illustrates, “To hold as ‘twere the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.” I will explain how theatre has been central to the life of the community in many cultures throughout history where the experience would not just entertain but include the audience as actual participants. I’ll give examples of how Indigenous tribes would use theatre for reasons that are ceremonial and ritualistic as well as performative, and how the ancient Greeks would attend theatre together as a community to experience a catharsis, a purge of emotions. Drawn from my decades of work in the theatre, I’ll share how I’ve personally witnessed and experienced the healing and transformative power of the art. I’ll introduce my endeavor with my new business Psychetheatrics where I’m inspired to bridge the psychedelic world with the art of theatre empowering individuals to unlock their full potential through innovative, holistic acting workshops blending theatrical techniques with personal development. You’ll ultimately realize that when theatre is treated and recognized as a holistic art, we can create a more empathetic, expressive and interconnected society.