ABSTRACT
Drawing upon Russian archival material, this chapter re-examines the role of Vsevolod Meyerhold in generating the structures for the professionalisation of the Soviet theatre, and traces a line of organisation from Dr Dapertutto’s studio to GITIS. A plan for an Experimental Theatre Institute is analysed for how it further develops the masterskaya archetype in practice. The Courses for the Mastery of Staging are discussed for how they further the Russian conception of the rezhisser and why this new role became the authority of Russian theatre practice.
