The Golden Buddha Changing Masks: Essays on the Spiritual Dimensions of Acting

In this book, Mark Olsen asks ‘Why should inspiration and growth in the spiritual dimension be relegated only to poets, musicians, painters and dancers? The actor, too, has the right and the means to enter through the mysterious gates and struggle to awaken’. Olsen describes his own education as a theatre professional who insists on combining self-development and universal ideals with his stage practice. This collection of informal essays is connected by the author’s belief that theatre has many of the same aims as spiritual practice. Topics include theatre history, Stanislavski – the mystic realist, higher purpose, sexual energy and acting, channeling, and others. The inclusion of a set of practical exercises, suitable for workshop or classroom settings, makes this an ideal introductory book for anyone with an interest in acting.