#44: Acting; Authenticity; Storytelling; Psychology; The Human Connection

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Edward McMillan, founder of the Brussels Shakespeare Society, actor, director, and theatre producer, for a conversation about storytelling, performance, psychology, and the role theatre plays in helping us better understand ourselves and one another.Edward begins by sharing the journey of building an English-language theatre community in Brussels from the ground up,reflecting on the challenges of creating a cultural institution, attracting audiences, and bringing together people from diverse backgrounds through a shared love of performance.Andras and Edward discuss what makes great acting, why authenticity matters more than perfection, and how actorslearn to balance technique with emotional truth. They explore improvisation, rehearsal, stage presence, and why audiences instinctively recognise genuine human connection.The conversation then turns to storytelling itself, examining why theatre continues to matter in a digital world, how stories shape the way we see ourselves, and the unique experience of live performance compared with film and television. Edward explains how theatre creates a shared emotional space where performers and audiences influence oneanother in real time.Later, they explore the relationship between drama and psychology, discussing empathy, vulnerability, identity, andthe ways performance can help people step outside themselves, become more emotionally aware, and better understand the perspectives of others.The episode is a thoughtful conversation about creativity, human connection, storytelling, and why theatre remains oneof the most powerful ways of exploring what it means to be human.