Stage and Screen Combat Courses
Scroll down for your next training opportunities.
Train in Dramatic Combat
Captivate is the premier company in Australia and the U.K. for Dramatic Combat (or ‘Stage Combat’) training.
When working in film, theatre and mocap, any action or fight sequence inherently has a risk of injury. No matter what kind of action you are performing, there are two main factors we need: Keep it SAFE, Make it EFFECTIVE.
It can be a big ask to pick up these skills ‘on the fly’, particularly when there is a time pressure, and something will always suffer in the balancing act between safety, technical accuracy and performance. Training lets you give your best performance, look convincing in action and respond to what is asked of you from a director or fight co-ordinator. Most importantly you can do all this while keeping yourself and others safe, so you are ready for the next take, the next scene, the next day and the next job.
Besides from learning the vital techniques of ‘illusion’ and fighting form, training dramatically enhances your movement, conditioning, awareness, and partner skills – so overall it absolutely widens your work potential.
In looking for dramatic combat training, it is vital that you learn from an experienced professional fight director, who has a proven industry track record in safety and craft. All of our tutors in Stage Combat are all certified Teachers and Fight Directors.
Our Australian head tutor is Fight Director and Movement Director Lyndall Grant, one of Australia most respected stage combat practitioners, assisted by Joshua Bell; and our U.K. team is headed by leading Fight Director Andrew Young, assisted by Amy Floyd.
YOUR NEXT TRAINING EVENTS:
The Voice in Stage and Screen Combat
Dates:
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November 2025 – BOOKINGS NOW OPEN
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A groundbreaking new workshop that combines vocal training, text performance and stage combat training – taught by leading Voice Specialists Jean Goodwin and Geraldine Cook, and leading Fight Director Lyndall Grant. This exciting new workshop is created for you to explore and craft your use of voice during scenes of heightened conflict and fight scenes. Over two days you will explore essential practices for performing violent scenes safely, effectively, and sustainably – so you can expand your creative choices and uphold your physical and vocal health.
ACTIVATE: CONDITIONING FOR ACTION AND PERFORMANCE
Dates:
Tuesday evenings, 3rd June to 15th July 2025 (excluding 24th June)
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A new and exciting Conditioning Series for all performers, to enhance your movement range, dexterity and strength for action performance – working with Personal Trainer and Fight Director Joshua Bell.
Activate is a six-week training series designed to elevate your capaxity for action performance through conditioning and mobility training – whether you’re an experienced mover or ‘movement-phobe’. The series is taught through the lens of stage combat – those who are new to this will gain experience in key principles of safety, technique and performance; those with prior experience will elevate their existing skills. This is your performance tune-up!
Registrations now open.
SHAKESPEARE’S FIGHTS – WITH IAIN SINCLAIR
Dates:
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November 2025
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A unique new opportunity to dive into Shakespeare’s fight scenes, from context, to character, to combat performance.
Acclaimed director Iain Sinclair joins fight director Lyndall Grant for an exhilarating weekend of Shakespearean fight scenes. They will guide you through key aspects of approaching Shakespearean fight scenes, and how we blend the verbal and physical conflict to unlock your best performance. You will explore technical and artistic considerations for narrative, character, language and text, and how we combine this with safe and effective techniques for performing stage combat as part of the character’s journey.
Registrations now open.
Stage Combat Drop-in Classes – Summer 2025 Series
Dates:
Thursday evenings from 27th November 2025 to 15th January 2026 (Session three on Wed 10th Dec; no classes over Christmas and New Year)
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
Our favourite casual series of stage combat classes! The drop-in series are focus points on various industry aspects of stage combat performance. They are designed for you to either take the full BUNDLE of six classes, or drop in and out of SINGLE classes as you’re available. We cover a range of styles, weapon systems and applications – so that you can get a solid grounding in performing dramatic fight scenes on the job. And they are very, very fun.
Your training is lead by leading fight director, Lyndall Grant.
Stage Combat Certification Course – SAFDi Fundamentals and BADC Standard
Dates:
Next course coming soon.
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A unique opportunity to train in industry-recognised STAGE COMBAT Certification courses for Australia with the Society of Australian Fight Directors inc (SAFDi), and the U.K. with the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC). The only course of its kind in Australia, this intensive will train you in the essential technical and performance skills you need to perform dramatic combat safely and effectively for professional work in stage, screen and motion capture.
Your training is lead by leading fight director, Lyndall Grant. The course culminates in a choreographed fight scene that is performed under examination conditions to be assessed for your certification.
Course entry is by application.
