Meyerhold’s Biomechanics: 50 Critical Resources
Biomechanics for the Theatre
Vsevolod Meyerhold
Comprehensive biography of Vsevolod Meyerhold and his career in the theatre as an actor and director.
Meyerhold biography accompanied by a few simple biomechanics exercises suitable for students.
Excellent biography of Vsevelolod Meyerhold with detailed accounts of his career and productions.

Detailed biography of Meyerhold and his achievements in Russian theatre.
Wikipedia entry on Vsevolod Meyerhold outlining his early life, career under communism, acting techniques and influence on 20th century theatre.
Biography of the director and his influences, contribution to 20th century theatre and more.
Overview of Meyerhold’s major achievements in the theatre ā useful for senior students.

Biomechanics Resources
Excellent essay carefully analysing Meyerhold’s system of biomechanics, his intentions and productions. Comprehensive coverage in easy to understand language. Great for senior theatre students.
Clear explanation of the purpose of function of biomechanics in actor training programs.
Useful outline of Meyerhold’s system and its links to Soviet-Marxist philosophy. Includes quotes from authors and academics.
Excellent research essay on the very beginnings of Meyerhold’s new actor training system, including several rare archival photographs of early poses.
Scholarly essay outlining Meyerhold’s system.
A personal reflection of working with biomechanics in actor training.
Brief entry on this highly physical form of theatre from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Handy collection of articles from across the web, now gone, discussing this form of actor training.
Curated collection of resources from across the web on physical theatre.
Series of video resources on biomechanics explained.
University student essay on the importance of Meyerhold’s teachings on physical theatre.
Useful article on the history of the theatrical methods of Vsevolod Meyerhold.
Brief overview of the nature of biomechanics from Wikipedia.
Constructivism
Article by well known Meyerhold scholar Jonathon Pitches discussing among other things connections to both the constructivist and futurist movements in the arts.
Excellent academic article on Meyerhold’s biomechanics and its links to the constructivist movement at that time.

1981 New York times article discussing Meyerhold’s interest in dance, its influence on biomechanics, and the recreation of the constructivist set for The Magnanimous Cuckold at the Guggenheim Museum.

Academic Papers
Academic thesis the origins of biomechanics in Meyerhold’s work and the ability to use this form of movement to motion capture acting for film.
PhD thesis The Use of Meyerhold’s Biomechanics Training and Principles of Composition in Contemporary
Theatre.
Thesis titled Towards a 20th Century History of Relationships between Theatre and Neuroscience discussing movement, physiology and Meyerhold.
Journal article proposing if young actors and directors wish to properly use biomechanics, then they must first be knowledgeable in the simple mechanics of motion.
Academic paper with three exercises using a stick and one etude exercise for biomechanics training.
Lesson Plans
Fantastic article from Teaching Theatre magazine about a teacher’s regular use of biomechanics exercises in the classroom as a way of getting students away from scripts to better understanding the physical nature of their characters.
Detailed description of Meyerhold’s career and theatre productions in a social and political context. Includes numerous biomechanics exercises suitable for students.
Key terminology for Meyerhold’s biomechanics and etudes.
Introduction to this form of actor training pitched at students, from the New South Wales Department of Education.
Background to Meyerhold and biomechanics including a series of exercises suitable for students (p.39 onwards).