The Studio – Demidov Studio Vienna

The Demidov Studio Vienna

The studio was created in 2023 by Andrei Biziorek in association with Thomas Weilharter as a place to both teach the Demidov technique so that it continues to reach a wider audience, and to research and explore the technique more deeply. The Demidov inner technique is a practical key toward the resurrection and further development of the rich Russian psychological theatre tradition. In contrast to modern theatrical and cinematic trends, those based on spectacle and special effects, the Demidov technique gives preference to the creative individuality of the artist. The studio runs regular introductory workshops, as well as intermediate level workshops for those with some experience of the technique.

Studio Founder and Director

Andrei Biziorek

Andrei is an acting teacher and director who spent 20 years working predominantly in Poland, the UK, the US 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.
In Poland he also trained with Zygmunt Molik, one of Jerzy Grotowski’s main actors from the Laboratory Theatre. He has taught acting and directed at numerous drama schools in the UK and internationally, including RADA, East 15, ArtsEd, Guildford School of Acting, Drama Studio London, Fourth Monkey Acting Training Company, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Bristol School of Acting and he has been teaching on the BA and MA courses at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London for more than eight years.

Andrei was introduced to the Demidov Organic Acting Technique by Professor Malaev-Babel and has been for the past seven years, working intensively with the technique under his guidance – in London, Moscow and Florida.
As a result of this relationship, Andrei founded Demidov Studio London, the UK chapter of the International Demidov Association, with Professor Malaev-Babel’s support as curator.

In Australia, Andrei was artistic director of Vis a Vis Theatre in Sydney, and in London, artistic director of Waving Not Drowning Theatre, Wrestling the Angel polyphonic singing group, and is currently director of the Tribe Theatre Collective, whose first production, Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment – created entirely with the Demidov Technique – was performed at The Cockpit Theatre in 2019.
Apart from conducting all the classes at Demidov Studio Vienna, Andrei is also Director of the Demidov Studio London and DSL LAB, a research space that works with select actors committed to exploring the technique more deeply.

Studio Founder and Assistant Director

Thomas Weilharter

Thomas has been working as an actor (theater / film / television), performer, director and freelance artist since 2009.

His work „Zuckerwattewolken“ was awarded the Jungwild Preis, and he was nominated for the Newcomer Preis at the Theater Drachengasse with „Fieber fressen“ and for the Fringe Spirit Award at the Gothenburg Fringe Festival with „Romeo&Chulio“.
He has been involved in project management, tour organization, and has been artistically invited to international festivals in Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, England, as well as Austria (e.g. Halbstark 2014, Stockholm Fringe Fest 2011/12/16, Prague Fringe Festival 2013, Mimamusch Kurztheaterfestival 2009-2014, Wandsworth Arts Festival, Gothenburg Fringe Festival 2016, szene bunte wähne 2014/15/16, and Kukuk 2013/14, Szene Waldviertel 2018).
He has worked on his own projects such as „Romeo&Chulio“ (with over 100 performances in four countries), „DANCEBOTER“, „Zuckerwattewolken“, „Fieber fressen“, „Dead Romance“, „Sternschnuppen auf meiner Zimmerdecke“, among others.
He has collaborated with the aktionstheater ensemble and had numerous engagements such as „Vom Kopf des Herrn Zopf“ (Winner Wettbewerb 3+), „6“ (STELLA – Winner 2012 – best production for youngsters), From 2013-2016, he was an ensemble member of the Wiener Klassenzimmertheater under the direction of Dana Csapo. In 2018, the two created the play „Ich habe das Gefühl, was Besonderes zu sein“ which was nominated for the STELLA in the category outstanding production for youngsters.

As an actor, he is the winner of the Acting Tournament 2020 (Ivo Consi & Nancy Bishop Casting) and the Acting Tournament COMEDY 2021 (Ivo Consi & Nancy Bishop Casting).

Initially trained in the Meisner- , Batson & Chubbuck Technique (among others), he abandoned these in 2021 and has been working continuously with Andrei Biziorek in the Demidov Acting Technique ever since.