Safe frameworks for risky story-telling
Captivate’s fight directors draw on 20 years of industry experience in Australia and the U.K. We specialise in crafting scenes of dramatic action that are grounded in safety, so there can be unencumbered expansion into intention-lead, innovative and engaging stories.
Our work covers not just ‘obvious’ moments of dramatic combat, but also any moment of physical risk or physical conflict between the characters.
As our fight directors are performers themselves, they are sensitive to the practical and dramatic needs of each project. Our work starts with a conversation with the director, key creatives and the cast, where we explore creative aims and identify any concerns or challenges. We then combine this with a deep understanding of dramatic combat technique, the actor’s process, biomechanics, scene theory and theatrical processes to design choreography around the actor, around the director, and around the character of the piece.
“When the physicality amps up later in the piece, thanks to fight choreographer Lyndall Grant, it’s visceral and affecting in a way stage violence usually isn’t.”
Hidden craft
We take particular care to design choreography around the capabilities of each actor, so that the action flows organically with the actor’s character choices. This approach means there is no interruption to the narrative for the fight moments, no ‘staged combat’, just an impactful journey.
For theatre, we will always equip show crew to carry out fight calls and daily fight maintenance, whether this is stage management or a fight captain. We are always on-hand for support through the run, and are happy to arrange check-ins in whatever way is feasible – including in-person visits, video calls, or video messaging.
All our fight directors are accredited with national dramatic combat training associates, including the Society of Australian Fight Directors inc., the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, and the Academy of Performance Combat. We’re here for you, and are passionate about lifting the standard of this work across the industry. Reach out to us for a chat to see how we can help.
“The juddering finale is also impressive with expertly-choreographed fight sequences — impressive work by Lyndall Grant.”
Stu Black, The Londonist
Our Fight Directors
australia
Lyndall Grant (she/her)
Company fight director, movement director, performance capture specialist.
Lyndall is one of Australia’s leading fight directors, working across the spectrum of the industry from main stage and commercial projects, to independent productions. She is an accredited teacher with the British Academy of Dramatic Combat and Society of Australian Fight Directors inc, and has worked over 20 years in Australia and the U.K.
Lyndall comes from a background in gymnastics, dance and international-level sports… as well as a previous career as a veterinarian. She has a sensitivity for finding how to relate directions and choreography to each performer, utilising their strengths and unlocking their full capabilities to create textured and enthralling fight scenes.
australia
Joshua Bell (he/him)
Associate fight director, personal trainer
Joshua Bell is a Melbourne-based fight director, movement trainer, and certified personal trainer. He is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Theatre Practice, Honours) and a member of the Society of Australian Fight Directors since 2018.
Josh is dedicated to safe, compelling, and collaborative storytelling through dramatic combat. Alongside his choreographic work, Joshua is an experienced educator who empowers performers of all levels with a body-aware approach to movement and performance.
U.K.
Amy Floyd (she/her)
Company fight director, performance capture specialist.
A practicing martial artist in Shotokan Karate from the age of twelve, Amy has carried her passion for that discipline into her career as a specialised fighter for theatre, film and motion-capture. She has worked both behind and in front of the camera, and on and off stage, as a producer and performer. Her credits as a fight performer include Netflix’s The Witcher, Marvel’s Secret Invasion, Disney’s Culprits, ITV’s The Long Call and various Performance Capture work for Rockstar Games and Frontier Developments.
Amy is an apprentice teacher with the Academy of Performance Combat, and has been working as a fight director since 2018.
U.K.
Andrew Young (he/him)
Company fight director, performance capture specialist.
Andrew is a fight director and certified stage combat teacher with British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC), with 20 years of experience as a professional actor working in theatre, film and the performance capture industry.
Andrew specialises in creating truthful action, helping actors connect their emotional journey to the physical work in order to deliver hard hitting and realistic choreography. He has a particular flair for working with acting students, helping them combine their vocal, physical and emotional training and guiding them as they develop and gain confidence in their ability.
Fight Directors-in-Training
Australia
Daniel Lamech (he/him)
Training fight director, training intimacy coordinator
Daniel has spent the last 4 years training in Stage Combat, Officially starting the process of becoming a fight director in 2024 through the Society of Australian Fight Directors inc. In 2025 he began training with Theatrical Intimacy Education in order to become an Intimacy Coordinator.
Daniel is a performer in a vast range of disciplines, including Commedia Dell’arte, pantomime, dinner theatre, puppetry, mascot work, stilt walking and fire twirling. Recently he has been exploring Cabaret and Burlesque . Daniel is passionate about performer safety and exploration through informed consent.