THE TEAM
Born in Athens, Yorgos is an acting, public speaking & leadership coach whose methods focus primarily on embodiment. He is also an international workshop leader, actor, and theatre director.
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As the founder of Physical Lab, an international laboratory for performance, Yorgos utilizes his own embodiment-based methodology to lead individuals through an exploration of self-discovery where old habits are examined and new pathways are explored. Yorgos has coached numerous actors, business individuals, and politicians throughout Europe and the US.
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His work is a search for presence and authenticity, with the point of entry being the body.
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He previously co-founded Tmesis Theatre Company and Physical Fest, an international festival of physical theatre. He was a co-artistic director of both organisations until 2010. Since the creation of Physical Lab in 2011, Yorgos has taught and directed at LAMDA, RADA, Drama Centre of Saint Martins, Williams College, Pace University, and more.
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Among his most favourite artistic projects are Home, a multidisciplinary experimental theatre piece based on Euripides’ Medea, and The Last Note, Padelis Voulgaris's feature film which has won several awards throughout Greece and the US.
YORGOS KARAMALEGOS
Artistic Director & Lab Founder
TATIANA SPIVAKOVA
Workshop Leader
Tatiana is an international artist, actress, director and writer. She graduated from the National Superior Conservatoire of Dramatic Arts in Paris and spent one year studiyng at LAMDA. She also graduated from the Musical Regional Conservatoire in Aubervilliers and studied music, dance and history of the arts.
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Originally Armenian and Russian, Tatiana was born in Moscow, grew up in Spain, and is currently living and working in Paris. She is fluent in French, Russian, English and Spanish.
Associate artist of Physical Lab, she’s been working alongside Yorgos for the last 10 years, searching, creating and delivering Labs together or by herself.
In France, she directed plays by Nicolaï Gogol, Fabrice Melquiot, Maxim Gorky, Albert Camus, Daniel Besnehard and wrote “Ton Corps - Ma Terre”, her latest play that will be premiering in the National dramatic center of Montreuil in 2023.
She also performed on many international stages in France, Spain, Switzerland and took part in several international festivals around the world. On screen she has appeared in movies such as Même Pas Mal, directed by Maxime Roy and Jeremy Trequesser, SNO, directed by William Oldroyd, and, most recently, Gate To Heaven by Jivan Avetisyan, which is currently touring the festival circuit in the US.
Yvonne is a theatre and voice coach who has been teaching kids and young adults from all walks of life for more than 25 years. She studied theatre pedagogy in Munich (Pädagogisches Institut München) and holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and History. She also works as a radio journalist and podcast host.
Born in Ulm, south Germany, Yvonne was an artistic gymnast and competed on a national level (Bundesliga, Deutsche Meisterschaften) for over 12 years. This laid the foundation for her interest in movement, body, and presence.
After many years as a theatre coach, Yvonne returned to performing herself, studying with Keith Johnstone. She was influenced by renowned physical theater companies such as „Song of the Goat Theatre,“ the Viewpoints and Suzuki Theatre, Tanztheater Wuppertal (Pina Bausch), as well as immersive theatre groups such as „Punchdrunk“. In her quest for movement and presence, she has also studied Jazz and Modern Dance.
Yvonne first met Yorgos in London in 2013 and has been training with him ever since. Physical Lab’s work and method informed her current journey into voice work. She is now a licensed voice coach with the „Lichtenberger-Method,“ which complements the work of Physical Lab in a unique and exciting way.
YVONNE MAIER
Associate Teaching Artist
MAITE JÁUREGUI
Associate Teaching Artist
Born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Madrid, Maite has spent the past 13 years living in London. Her acting journey began with the acclaimed film Planta 4, directed by Antonio Mercero. In Spain, she also appeared in various TV series and played the lead role of a pop singer in 18 RDC, recording an album for the show.
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In 2010, Maite moved to London to pursue her career further, training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since then, she has been involved in numerous stage productions, including Don Quixote, Antigone/Twin Peaks, The House of Bernarda Alba, and more. She received a nomination for Performing Artist of the Year at the LUKAS awards in 2019 for her role in The Reality. She also contributed her talent to films and short films, such as Another Love and Sin Conexión, earning her the Best Actress award at the ALCURT Film Festival in 2019.
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Apart from her acting, Maite is a multi-talented artist, writing, playing the violin, singing jazz, and working as a Voice Over artist with over 750 credits to her name. She co-created a one-woman show named 'UNA' and has been involved in various successful projects, including the award-winning short film LA MASA and narrating audiobooks like The Fountains of Silence, earning her an Earphones Award. Her recent narration work includes the new Teletubbies animated series.
STELLA KARAKATSANI
Administrative Co-ordinator
NICK POLLIFRONE
Designer & Content Writer
Originally from the US, Nick is an actor, writer, and journalist based in Kyoto, Japan. As an actor, Nick trained at both RADA and LAMDA in London, the latter being where he was introduced to Yorgos and physical theatre. He has worked both regionally and locally in NYC in several Shakespeare productions including Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet, and Physical Lab's own Macbeth.
As a journalist, Nick is the founder of Typed Out, a platform and podcast dedicated to expanding the boundaries of understanding & acceptance. He believes it is through art and the power of conversation that we can better understand one another.