Acting, Creativity and Theatre Pedagogy
Bogdan-Mihail Dumitrescu | Actor, Acting Teacher, PhD
My research focuses on creativity in acting, theatre pedagogy and the relationship between artistic exploration and structured training.
I am a Romanian actor, improviser and acting teacher based in Norway. My academic work is closely connected to my professional experience in theatre, film and improvisation.
In 2018, I completed my PhD at the National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC) in Bucharest, with a doctoral dissertation entitled Tehnici de dezvoltare și antrenare a creativității specifice Artei Actorului (Techniques for Developing and Training Creativity Specific to the Art of Acting).
My doctoral research examined the development of creativity in actor training through theatre pedagogy, improvisation, experimental methods and principles adapted from sports training.
The research included an experimental programme involving 14 acting students, 12 improvisation training sessions and assessments using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. It also included exploratory EEG investigations into acting and improvisation.
One of the methodological contributions of the dissertation was precontextual improvisation, an approach that integrates improvisational exercises into the process of developing a role based on a pre-written dramatic text.
My interests extend beyond improvisation itself. I am particularly interested in how actors develop and maintain creativity while working within established dramatic structures, how attention and interaction influence performance, and how artistic training can support both technical preparation and personal discovery.
Doctoral Research
Improvisation-Based Creativity Training in Performing Arts Education
A Practice-Based Research Summary
An English-language presentation of my doctoral research, including its theoretical background, experimental work, pedagogical applications and methodological proposals.
Read the full research summary here.
About Lee Strasberg and The Method
About precontextual improvisation
Nikolai Demidov to Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko: “Our Creative Paths Have Parted”
“You Need to Know That…” – A Monologue for First-Year Acting Students
Rendez-vous – a monologue for drama school auditions (What if?)
The Secret- acting scene first year
“So?” – A Short Scene for First-Year Acting Students
Breathe! – A Conflict Study for Acting Students
The Books That Helped Me as an Actor and Acting Teacher
Henrik Ibsen: Lesser-Known Facts
Publications
Similarities between Actor Training and Sports Training
Revista Concept, No. 2, 2020.
An exploration of possible connections between actor training and principles drawn from sports training.
Current Research Interests
My current interests include creativity in acting, the relationship between improvisation and scripted performance, attention and responsiveness, actor training methodologies, and the relationship between artistic freedom and dramatic structure.
I am interested in developing these questions further through research, teaching, practical workshops and international academic collaboration.
Academic and Professional Collaboration
I welcome conversations and potential collaborations with researchers, acting teachers, theatre schools, universities and performing arts professionals interested in creativity, actor training and theatre pedagogy.
For professional enquiries, please use the contact information available on RetroDag.
The research presented here originates from my doctoral work completed in 2018. Current research interests and future projects are presented separately from the findings of that dissertation.