Dramatic Combat Courses
Captivate is the premier company in Australia and the U.K. for Dramatic Combat (or ‘Stage Combat’) training.
Our Australian head tutor is Fight Director and Movement Director Lyndall Grant, one of Australia most respected stage combat practitioners; and our U.K. team is headed by leading Fight Director Andrew Young, assisted by Amy Floyd.
We frequently host workshops with other internationally-renowned creatives such as Nigel Poulton, Jonathan Howell, Kristoffer Jorgensen, NJ-Price and Kevin McCurdy. Training comes in a range of regular options, including weekend workshops, evening courses, intensive courses, and industry-endorsed certification courses.
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.
Why should I train in ‘Stage Combat’?
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.
YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAIN:
Film Fighting Weekender: Hobart and Melbourne
Dates and Location:
HOBART: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023, Kickstart Arts Centre.
MELBOURNE: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March 2023, Dreamscreen Australia.
What is it?:
A unique experience of Film Fighting for Actors over a full weekend, culminating in a filmed fight scene. This is an exciting training event designed specifically for actors: empowering you with the tools to perform fights for screen safely, effectively and with dramatic impact… while spending a weekend working with exhilarating action and performance. Taught by one of Australia’s most respected Fight Directors, Lyndall Grant.
Stage Combat Summer Drop-In Sessions
Dates:
Monday evenings, 6:30pm – 9:00pm, November to January 2022
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
An exciting new series of six Stage Combat Drop-in sessions: self-contained and each focusing on a different aspect of stage combat craft. The sessions hone in on genre, techniques and performance approaches that frequently crop up in the industry, but can’t always be squeezed into ‘standard’ stage combat courses. Book the whole series as a Bundle, or drop in whenever you’re free.
Stage Combat Foundations Course
Dates:
Monday evenings, next course Autumn 2023.
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A course to give you the fundamental skills you need to safely and effectively perform dramatic combat for stage, screen and motion capture and a professional industry level. We will will cover foundations in unarmed combat and working with a single sword. Successfully completing the course will give you the ability to handle fight scenes across the industry; and will provide a foundation for further training for those who would like to advance further in the artform. You will have to the opportunity to put your hard work to practice as the course culminates in a performance outcome.
This course has a place available on the Training Scholarship Program.
Stage Combat Intermediate and Advanced Course
Dates:
Thursday evenings, 11th May – 13th July 2023
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
A comprehensive 10-week course to advance your skills in stage and screen combat at a professional level. Taught by one of Australia’s most respected Fight Directors, Lyndall Grant. This course is specifically created for performers who have had prior stage and screen combat training. This is time and space to extend your skills, widen your weapon range, and generate a deeper understanding of the craft of dramatic combat for stage, screen and motion capture.
Our Fight Family
We are proud to work with some of the friendliest, most open and enthusiastic tutors, fight directors and students. We foster our fight community here in Australia, the U.K. and internationally, which is drawn together by mutual respect, curiosity and a zest for play. Besides from the direct and wider professional skills you gain from our workshops, from your first session you also enter a network of like-minded colleagues and friends – which frequently opens doors you never actually knew existed.
Some of our previous and current Dramatic Combat tutors include:
Lyndall Grant (Australia, U.K.)
Andrew Young (U.K.)
Kristoffer Jorgensen (Norway, U.K.)
Nigel Poulton (Australia)
Scott Witt (Australia)
Felicity Steel (Australia)
N-J Price (Australia)
Tim Dashwood (Australia)
Joshua Bell (Australia)
Amy Bolger-Floyd (U.K.)
Keep up with all the news on Training Opportunities as they launch, and have first choice on a spot:
UK Opportunities:
UK MAILING LIST
Australian Opportunities:
AUS MAILING LIST
Got questions? Get in touch!
- Main Picture: Alice Cavanagh and Scott Jackson
