Felix Barrett

Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus at Stanford University, famously known for the Stanford Prison Experiment, dives into the intriguing interplay between theater and psychology with Felix Barrett, the artistic director of Punchdrunk and co-creator of the immersive experience Sleep No More. They discuss how immersive theater challenges audience expectations, blurring the lines between performance and psychological experimentation. The conversation touches on authority's influence on behavior, ethical dilemmas in research, and the emotional impact of unique theatrical experiences on participants.

Growing up in the suburbs of England, Felix Barrett — founder of immersive theater company Punchdrunk — considers himself a good kid. He’s a rule-follower with a deep respect for authority. But a few eye-opening evenings at the theater introduce him to the exciting, and sometimes dangerous, world of rule-breaking. Later, on an unplanned trip to Thailand, Felix learns to embrace a life without rules and finds the beauty that exists in the extreme. If this story resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your reflections by rating and reviewing Meditative Story in your podcast player. It helps other listeners find their way to show, and we’d be so grateful.Listen to Joe Wicks' Meditative Story "Racing toward passion and away from fear": https://listen.meditativestory.com/JoeWicksPIOFind out more about Punchdrunk here: www.punchdrunk.comFind information on Punchdrunk’s Burnt City: www.theburntcity.com Find information on Sleep No More: https://mckittrickhotel.com/sleep-no-more/#/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.