FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel to Lead First-Ever Demidov Masterclass in Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece – November 2025 —
Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel, Head and Certifying Master Teacher of the International Demidov Association, and Professor of Theatre and Head of Acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, will lead a landmark three-day Masterclass for the International Demidov Association in Athens—the birthplace of Western theatre.
The Masterclass, scheduled for November 12–14, 2025, will be hosted at IOΘ – Higher School of Dramatic Art and co-produced by Phi Playhouse, an Athens-based training studio dedicated to actor research and performance practice. IOΘ offers “a holistic, modern, and professionally oriented artistic education,” making it a fitting partner for this historic event.
While in Athens, Professor Malaev-Babel will also lead a special one-day masterclass exclusively for Greek actors who are current or former participants in the Demidov Association’s Acting Certificate Program.
“Greece gave the world the theatre,” said Professor Malaev-Babel. “It’s profoundly meaningful to share Demidov’s culture of truth, freedom, and organic creativity with artists in Athens—and to do so in partnership with a forward-looking drama school and a passionate local studio devoted to actor development.”
About IOΘ
Located in the heart of Athens, IOΘ is a Higher School of Dramatic Art offering a rigorous, modern curriculum aligned with international standards. Its philosophy emphasizes holistic training and professional readiness, equipping students with the skills to thrive both on stage and on screen.
About Phi Playhouse
Phi Playhouse, led by Kimon Fioretos—one of only five teachers in the world certified by Professor Malaev-Babel to teach the Demidov School—is an ensemble and acting studio known for research-driven training and deep exploration of organic techniques, including those of Demidov, Michael Chekhov, and Meisner.
About the Demidov School of Acting
The Demidov School emphasizes organic creativity, truth, and freedom in the actor’s process. Developed by Nikolai Demidov—Stanislavsky’s closest collaborator—it revolutionized the understanding of subconscious inspiration in performance. Professor Malaev-Babel has introduced these teachings internationally through workshops, publications, and certificate programs.
“We are linking a 2,500-year tradition of theatrical invention with one of today’s most transformative approaches to actor training,” said Professor Malaev-Babel.