Demidov Acting Technique Retreat January 2025

This Demidov Acting Technique Retreat is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, and will bring together two of the four teachers in the world who are certified to teach the Demidov work. Conceived and organised by Demidov Studio Vienna, in collaboration with two other Demidov studios: Demidov Studio London and Demidov Studio Athens.

AIM
The aim of the retreat is to bring together actors from all over the world, who are committed to and interested in working more intensively with the Demidov Acting Technique over a seven-day period, during which they will work as an ensemble, and have the opportunity to explore more deeply their potential as artists. The group will stay and work together in a mountain location in Poland for the duration of the retreat, offering the opportunity to escape the distractions and stresses of everyday modern living to focus on their artistic development, both individually and as a group. In addition to the class work sessions, time will be allocated for discussions and sharing of observations about the ongoing process.

This inaugural Demidov 2025 Retreat is planned to be the first of what will become an annual event that will be held in a different location each year. For the 2025 Retreat, actors will be attending from Greece, Austria, the UK, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

STRUCTURE
The Retreat will be divided into two tracks. One: Education and Training; and Two: Research and Development. The first track will be for the majority of actors who are attending and will lead them through certain fundamental aspects of the Demidov curriculum, ending with a showing of their work at the end of the Retreat.

The second track will involve more experienced research groups of actors, who work within the various studios, known as Lab Ensembles. This track will be more focused on researching specific aspects of the Demidov work. Members of the Lab Ensembles will also circulate among the Education and Training group throughout the Retreat.

The Main Group will work on the Roots of the Technique: Assigning – emerging life of subconscious perception – technique of the beginning (not interfering and Green-lighting) – Inexact (Creative) Repetition – how Emerging Circumstances become Given – known and unknown: the magnetic field of Character’s life – surrendering to Weak Currents

Towards exploration of deepening of circumstances and character: development and maturing of character, magnetising circumstances, how they become physiological/psychological via repeat etudes.

Teachers for the Retreat will be Andrei Biziorek, Director of Demidov Studio Vienna and Demidov Studio London, and Vicky Georgiadou, Director of Demidov Studio Athens.

DAILY Structure of the Retreat

Friday 3/01/2025
Arrival-Day, plus one evening session in two mixed groups
(Etudes warm-up sessions)

Saturday 04/01/2025 – Monday 06/01/2025
Separate morning sessions (10am to 1pm) of the Lab Group and the Main Group and mixed evening sessions (3pm to 6pm)

Tuesday 07/01/2025
Day-Off and Gathering: Discussions and Q&A on Demidov and thoughts/questions of the process so far.
Different activities to be chosen individually.

Wednesday 08/01/2025 – Thursday 09/01/2025
Separate morning (10am to 1pm) and evening (3pm to 6pm) sessions of the Lab Group and the Main Group.
(More focused work on the material researched and developed in both groups.)

Friday 10/01/2024
All Actors combined for both sessions; 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm.

Saturday 11/01/2024
Departure

When and Where
January 3^rd – January 11^th 2025
in Poland (Targoszów 51A, 34-206 Krzeszów)

There will be transport to and from the Retreat space to the nearest Airport (Krakow; John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice). Let us know your arrival time after booking so we can organise accordingly. Everyone needs to arrive on the 3^rd of January and stay for the whole retreat until 11^th of January to be able to join. 

Accomodation
“Will there be single rooms?”
No, our Research space at Targoszów 51A, 34-206 Krzeszów only provides shared bedrooms (separated by sex).

Food
Included will be vegetarian meals by our hosts. If you have any allergies, let us know in advance so we can forward that information to our hosts.

Price
1480 €

This covers tuition, accommodation and food, as well as transportation to and from the Retreat (Targoszów 51A, 34-206 Krzeszów to John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice).

QUESTIONS about TRAVEL
“I will travel by plane to Krakow, how do I get to the retreat?”
There will be transport to and from the retreat space to the nearest Airport John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice. Let us know your arrival time after booking so we can organise accordingly.

“I am traveling by car to the retreat, what do I need to consider?”
Since it will be cold and most likely snowy, keep in mind that there is a possibility that you will need snow chains for the last bit to the research space. There are free parking spots at the retreat.

“I will arrive by train at the main station in Krakow, is there a transport from the main train station in Krakow to the research space?”
No, we do not provide travel from the train station in Krakow. You will have to get to John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice first.

“How I do get to the airport on the 11^th of January?”
A transport to John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice will be provided on the morning of the 11^th of January at 10am. Take into consideration, that the journey to the airport will take roughly 1:15h and there could be holdups so plan your flight departure accordingly. We will not reimburse anyone due to flights missed on behalf of the bus transportation company, the weather or any other catastrophies that might lead to a delay and therefore you missing your flight.