GABROVO 2026

Demidov Masterclass with Andrei Malaev-Babel

March 10–15, 2026 · Gabrovo, Bulgaria
Presented by "Racho Stoyanov" Drama Theatre
In partnership with the Gabrovo Municipality and the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria

An In-Depth 6-Day Immersive Training in the Demidov Organic Technique

 

Experience a rare opportunity to train directly with Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel, the world’s foremost authority on the Demidov School of Acting. As the certifying master teacher of the Demidov Association, Professor Malaev-Babel has introduced this groundbreaking technique to actors and educators across the globe.

 

Over the course of six immersive days, participants will engage in intensive group work focused on Demidov’s Organic Technique—a radically freeing approach to acting that fosters:

  • Spontaneity and truthfulness through unplanned etudes
  • Authentic inner response via subconscious emotional flow
  • The emergence of character through perception, not construction

This masterclass is designed for professional actors, acting students, directors, and educators seeking to deepen their creative freedom and explore an integrated, instinct-driven approach to performance.

 

Curriculum Overview

 

This extended-format training offers participants the full arc of the Demidov actor’s journey: from perceptual awakening to the organic development of emotional truth and character. Participants will be guided through a carefully sequenced progression of exercises and etudes, allowing for daily deepening and integration.

  • March 10–12: Foundations of Perception, Inner Stillness, and Emotional Readiness
  • March 13–14: Development of Responsiveness, Reaction, and Organic Flow
  • March 15: Introduction to Monologue Work (for selected participants bringing prepared material)

 

All sessions will be taught in English with Bulgarian translation and facilitation provided as needed.

 

 

 

Schedule & Venue:

  • Dates: March 10–15, 2026
  • Time:
    • Group 1: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    • Group 2: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • Location: Rehearsal space arranged by "Racho Stoyanov" Drama Theatre, Gabrovo

 

 

How to Apply

This training is free of charge for selected participants as part of the Gabrovo Municipality’s project “ACT x 3: International Theater Workshops,” under the national initiative:

  • “Intersection Point” — part of the BG-RRP-11.021 Grant Scheme Next Generation Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities, under the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria.

Applications are open to Bulgarian actors, directors, and advanced acting students.

 

This masterclass is currently fully booked.
A waitlist is open, and interested applicants are still encouraged to submit materials in case spots become available.

 

To join the waitlist, please email the following to forum@dramagabrovo.com:

  • A short bio
  • A recent headshot
  • A brief statement of purpose (why you are applying and what you hope to gain)
  • Contact information

 

About the Organizer

 

"Racho Stoyanov" Drama Theatre is a repertory theatre funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria and Gabrovo Municipality. It has been recognized with numerous national and international awards and continues to lead in the development of contemporary Bulgarian theatre.

 

Following the success of three editions of the Summer Theatre Forum, which offered free creative workshops and training to artists across the country, the theatre now turns toward positioning Gabrovo as a hub for advanced performance training, hosting this international masterclass in early 2026.

 

 

 

“This training is not about constructing behavior. It is about freeing the artist within—quieting the noise of control and allowing the subconscious to speak. It is a return to the art of truly living on stage and on camera.”
 

 

 

— Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel