The 10th Annual Demidov Summer Course Returns On Site in London

June 22–27, 2026 | Rudolf Steiner House

After five years of being conducted in virtual space, the Demidov Annual Summer Course returns to an on-site format in London, marking its 10th anniversary with a six-day immersive training in the Demidov School of Acting.

Titled “The Culture of Freedom,” this year’s course will take place June 22–27, 2026, in the historic Eurythmy Room at Rudolf Steiner House in Marylebone, a location of particular resonance for the work. Demidov’s approach to actor training was deeply influenced by aspects of Rudolf Steiner’s thinking, which he transformed into a practical psycho-technique for the stage and screen.

A Decade of Development

The Demidov Summer Course originated in 2017 in the scientific community of Pushchino, outside Moscow, as part of the International Demidov Summer School. In 2019, it was held at the Stanislavsky House-Museum in Moscow, situating the work within the historical lineage of modern actor training.

Since 2020, the course has continued online, bringing together actors, directors, and teachers from across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Brazil, Australia, China, Russia, and Ukraine. The 2026 course marks a significant return to in-person training and a renewed emphasis on the shared, physical conditions essential to Demidov’s method.

The Culture of Freedom

The central focus of this year’s course is Demidov’s core principle of creative freedom.

In Demidov’s understanding, freedom is not improvisational looseness or personal license, but the actor’s ability to live truthfully within given circumstances without internal coercion, preplanning, or imposed form. It is a disciplined and reliable condition that allows the actor to remain spontaneous across rehearsal, performance, and filming.

Over the course of six days, participants will engage in 36 hours of intensive, practical training, working with structured Demidov etudes, text, and scene material. The training is designed to develop the actor’s ability to function creatively and involuntarily by removing inner obstacles such as anticipation, imitation, and fear of error.

Teaching and Format

The course is taught by Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel, Professor of Theatre and Head of Acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, Head and Certifying Master Teacher of the International Demidov Association, and the leading specialist in the Demidov Technique worldwide.

The program is conducted in English and is open to actors, directors, and teachers. Enrollment is strictly limited in order to ensure depth, continuity, and individual attention.