Demidov Studio London is a centre for teaching and research into the Demidov Acting Technique. We are committed to bringing the Demidov School of Acting, which is rooted in the culture of creative freedom, to all actors who want to truly experience their truth, spontaneity an unpredictability on stage, in film or television.
DSL is the official UK Chapter of the International Demidov Association, headed by Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel.
We currently run frequent Introductory classes and courses and also offer 1:1 sessions. The courses we offer follow a sequence that reflects the curriculum of the Demidov School of Acting. 1:1 sessions help actors with audition preparation, self tapes and preparation for a role.
The Demidov Technique, developed by Nikolai Demidov – a contemporary of Konstantin Stanislavsky – is fundamentally different from what Stanislavsky proposed. Demidov disagreed with Stanislavsky’s emphasis on analysis and was able to solve the issues of the actors’ creativity and inspiration that Stanislavsky was never able to.
The Demidov School of Acting truly allows actors to access their own creative individuality. We support actors to recognise and follow their artistic instincts, which flow organically, rather than trying to apply techniques that keep them locked in their heads.
For individuals who excel in this practice and demonstrate a commitment to further learning, the studio has a dedicated research group, the DSL Lab. This is a space for actors to study the technique in greater depth over an extended period of time, led by DSL Director, Andrei Biziorek.
The Demidov technique
is not simply another acting technique.
It is a distinctive approach to acting; to who an actor is as a creative artist,
and to theatre itself.
"Demidov Studio London has a great friendly and empathetic environment, where you can build confidence and creative habits, learning the most authentic kind of acting.
I have learned so much from both the teachers and students here, and plan to continue with this training for the foreseeable future."
- Jeneva, Student
Put simply, the Demidov technique focuses on encouraging the actor’s freedom, spontaneity and ability to truly live on stage and on screen, with access to all the richness of their emotional life. The technique inspires a constant discovery of the truth in each moment, as opposed to a rigid equation to be solved through analysis.
The technique was developed by Nikolai Demidov; a founding director of the Fourth Studio of the Moscow Art Theatre’s School, the first editor of Stanislavsky’s An Actor’s Work, and one of the three original teachers of the Stanislavsky System.
Demidov disagreed with Stanislavsky’s analytical approach, which he found blocked actors creatively. Instead, he created a technique that puts actors in touch with their own creative individuality, teaching them to recognise and follow their artistic instincts from the first lesson.
In our studio, we explore the practice through improvisational text etudes. These texts stimulate spontaneity and emotional richness in actors and instigate the free flow of subconscious creativity.
The Demidov technique is aimed at developing independent actor-creators capable of generating their own work, serving as an equal collaborator with the director.
Demidov Studio London was established in 2018 by Andrei Biziorek, in association with Demidov Master Teacher and head of the Demidov Association, Andrei Malaev-Babel. The studio serves as both a centre for teaching and disseminating the practice of the Demidov School more widely, and as a facility for explorative research into the technique more deeply.
In 2020 the studio moved online, successfully teaching highly effective and supportive classes over Zoom, in groups of 6-10 students. While we are now teaching in person in the studio again, because of the success and effectiveness of the online work, we have maintained our online teaching, which is a wonderful way for actors from abroad and outside of London to access the Demidov work.
Our online classes and courses are extremely effective, giving many actors from abroad and from outside of London the chance to train in the Demidov School. We have developed a way of working where actors almost always feel they are in the same space together.
How this works:
Demidov’s work was ahead of its time.
In teaching Stanislavsky’s method, he was able to solve the problems of an actor’s creativity that Stanislavsky never conquered.
At the time of his death, Stanislavsky recognised Demidov as the only teacher who understood his ‘system’.
"Instructor and students alike create a safe space in which you are allowed to be your most authentic self. Andrei's wide array of experience as both actor and director keeps the work honest and effective. The Demidov Studio cultivates a uniquely organic freedom in the actor. I would recommend to all actors.”
-Aaron, Online Student
London Studio Curator, Master Teacher
Head of the International Demidov Association
Studio Founder and Director
Our Master Teacher, Andrei Malaev-Babel is Professor of Theatre at Florida State University (FSU) and of New College of Florida, Head of Acting for the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
He is a winner of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots’ (KSORS) Award in the nomination ‘For Special Contribution to the Advancement of Popular Diplomacy’ and nominee for the Helen Hayes Award (Washington, D.C.).
Andrei is member of the Board of Directors of the Michael Chekhov Association (New York); member of the Stanislavsky Centre’s Advisory Committee (UK); member of Arti Dello Spettacolo-Performing Arts journal’s Scientific Council (Italy); member of the Artistic Council; The Latin American Stanislavsky Research Center (São Paulo, Brazil).
He is also an author and editor of books and journal articles on the masters of Russian Theatre: Nikolai Demidov, Yevgeny Vakhtangov, Michael Chekhov and Alexandra Remizova.
Our Studio Founder, Andrei Biziorek is an acting teacher and director. He has spent 20 years working in Poland, the UK, the USA, and Australia.
In Poland, he worked with companies in the post-Grotowski lineage including Gardzienice, Song of the Goat Theatre and was an actor touring internationally with Theatre ZAR, resident company at the Grotowski Institute in Wroclaw. He also trained with Zygmunt Molik, one of Jerzy Grotowski’s main actors from the Laboratory Theatre.
Andrei trained as a director and an actor, and has taught acting and directed at numerous drama schools in the UK and internationally including – in the UK – RADA, East 15, ArtsEd, Guildford School of Acting, Drama Studio London and Fourth Monkey Acting Training Company. He currently still teaches the Demidov Acting Technique at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. In addition to running and teaching at Demidov Studio London, he leads the DSL Lab, a ongoing group of actors committed to exploring the Demidov work over a longer period of time.
The International Demidov Association, curated by Andrei Malaev-Babel, unites teaching artists and acting studios based in the school of acting pioneered by the Russian master-teacher, Nikolai Demidov. The Association is, first and foremost, an international network of trusted teachers, united by the lofty ideals of the Demidov School of Acting with chapters in London, Athens and Chicago. Training and curatorship, provided by the leading Demidov expert worldwide, Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel, sets the Association aside and brings unparalleled expertise and heightened standards to the Association’s activities.
The Demidov Association is dedicated to preserving the precision and accuracy behind Demidov’s teachings.
Demidov insisted, that any school, however perfect, is ultimately destroyed by approximation. The Demidov Association is there to help actors, directors and teachers receive reliable and trusted, non-approximated experience in the Demidov School, to set standards and preserve ideals behind the Demidov School of Acting.
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