Demidov Studio Athens Lab
Guided by DSA director Vicky Georgiadou and constantly curated by Andrei Malaev-Babel, the worldwide leading specialist of Demidov School, who heads the International Demidov Association, a group of young actors trains systematically in the ways and the techniques of Nikolai Demidov’s School of Creative Freedom and explores the path Demidov created for the restoration of the organic acting, the liberation of the free flow of subconscious creativity and the cultivation of the psycho-technique of the affective actor (tragedian).
The ensemble started its work with 10 young actors, Vicky’s former students, graduates from the Drama School “Arhi” and Athens Conservatoire Drama School. They are: Panos Argiropoulos, Olga Kapagioridou, Antonis Karnavas, Michalis Kontos, Michalis Koutskoudis, Dimitris Nenopoulos, Antonis Papadakis, Konstantina Skandali, Vasia Stamou and Katerina Fahouri.
Since 2021, the Research Lab works systematically, developing and deepening its work on Demidov’s techniques and principles, which nurture the strong ties of a creative ensemble.
Since August 2023, the members of the DSA Lab are: Memos Kalogranis, Olga Kapagioridou, Aggeliki Karafotia, Antonis Karnavas, Michalis Kontos, Michalis Koutskoudis, Antonis Papadakis and Katerina Fahouri.
DSA Lab’s goal is to provide a creative space for both collective and individual training. The actors train weekly on Demidov’s signature etudes (improvisational exercises) but also on daily individual scales invented by Demidov. Nikolai Demidov’s etudes and scalework aim to re-programme actor’s reflexes, in order for them to give in to the truth of the first impulse, without activating their usual braking mechanisms.
Given the timescale that is necessary for this type of training, DSA’s research work traces Nikolai Demidov’s pedagogical approach. An approach of lofty and demanding ideals as well as of an extraordinary simplicity, that instigates the cultivation of a different approach in the development of an actor-creator. According to Demidov’s approach, principles, values and ways we used to think unattainable, become an indispensable part of the work from the first day of training. This approach, with its ways and values, gives the actor creative freedom, it nurtures a spiritual and physical state of calm and it cultivates a boldness based on actor’s faith in his sound creative state, which does not need intellectual concepts and pre-decisions that restrain actor’s wholistic psychophysical response.
Demidov’s training puts the actor and his psychophysical instrument in the centre. The play is not on the forefront anymore. The point of departure is the actor himself and the liberation of his perception, so that the perception of the imaginary circumstances can become entirely tangible on a physical and emotional level, liberated from any kind of intellectual restrains or analytical functions.
DSA Lab is the first Demidov trained ensemble in Greece and its work is on a creative dialogue with similar endeavours in other countries (U.K, Russia, U.S.A.), where the official Demidov Association’s chapters work for a responsible development and spread of Demidov’s School globally.
Honouring Demidov’s training process and the close collaboration with Demidov Studios worldwide, DSA Lab continues its practical research in order to further deepen the research into the still many unexplored aspects of Demidov’s treasure, to apply the method in productions and collaborations that focus on the organic processes of the actor, to introduce this way of studying and training in our country and further develop international collaborations and exchanges that are at the core of its activities.
Taking into consideration the current global conditions and the international nature of our collaboration, the use of digital platforms and teleconferences has become an indispensable and extremely valuable tool. DSA Lab’s activities takes place equally in person and online and its members, with deep faith in the unconditional truth Demidov’s School requires, have developed the ability to smoothly and deeply continue their work regardless of the space or the medium.
Goals of the Demidov Studio Athens Laboratory:
1. Training a new generation of actors in this creative approach.
2. Creating an ensemble of artists who can implement this technique and introduce it to other artists.
3. Communicating this way of work with an audience of young people who are interested in new approaches in the 21st century theatre.
4. International collaboration and a deep creative dialogue with similar efforts that take place worldwide.
5. Retaining a responsible educational, pedagogical and artistically scientific attitude towards the practical work and its conclusions.
The Demidov Studio Athens Laboratory is part of the activities of Pulsar Group and has been funded in 2021 by the Ministry of Culture for research work in the fiend of theatre.
