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; 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.
Dates:
Thursdays 15th August to 19th September 2024: BOOKINGS NOW OPEN.
Location:
Melbourne, Australia.
What is it?:
Our popular series of stage combat classes running over six weeks – sign up to all six, or drop in when you’re free. Each week focuses on a different element of stage combat craft, giving you the chance to work with a wide range of weapons, genre, performance styles and techniques. These class are a great way to try out stage combat if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do but have never had free time or finances. For experienced combat performers the classes are ideal for keeping yourself in engaged in training and performance practice, maintaining fitness and staying connected to our brilliant acting community.
Dates:
Saturday 7th to Sunday 15th September 2024 (excluding Wednesday 11th). 10am – 6pm
What is it?:
A unique opportunity to train in industry-recognised STAGE COMBAT Certification Courses for the Society of Australian Fight Directors inc. (SAFDi) and British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC). The only course of its kind in Australia, this 8-day intensive train you in the essential technical and performances skills needed to perform dramatic combat safely and effectively for the demands of professional work in stage, screen and motion capture. The course culminates in a choreographed fight scene that is performed under examination conditions to be assessed for certification. Working with leading fight director Lyndall Grant, Josh Bell and Amy Floyd.
Course entry is by application, and we are currently taking Waiting List places (follow INFO link).
Dates:
Thursday evenings from 31st October to 14th November; certification days 18th & 19th November 2024.
What is it?:
An exciting new course for those with stage combat experience, to give you focus time on the lovely weapon that is Longsword. We will be detailing historical form, dramatic context and performance texture. Students with existing SAFDi Fundamentals / BADC Standard certifications can take the Up-Skill option with two additional day’s training for a SAFDi Specialist and BADC Advanced Single Weapon certification.
Dates:
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December 2024.
What is it?:
Our favourite film course is back! This is a full weekend for actors to train in fighting for film. Over two days we will explore how to make fight illusions work on screen – the safety, the technical and the performance. On the second day, students will jump into ‘mock industry’ conditions to film a fight scene, which they can use to create show reel material. It’s a faced-paced, high action weekend!
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.)
Kevin McCurdy (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!