MOUNTED COMBAT Full weekend

See what it takes to become a real medieval knight on horseback. Ride at the Jousting tilt and learn how to fight with a broadsword, shield and lance. This course is suitable for single to groups of riders from novices to experienced riders and includes over night B&B.

FILM FIGHTS Full weekend

Pick the movie theme of your choice for your day of action adventure, from James Bond to Pirates of The Caribbean.

You name it, we’ll show you how to be it! Day one: basic stage combat techniques, scene choice and choreography. Day two: rehearsal and filming of your heroic action sequence

You name it we’ll show you how to be it! Day one: scene choreography, day two: filming your heroic action sequence

FOOLING ABOUT 2hrs or a full day

A chance to explore the physical tricks and turns of being a Clown! Emulate the greats such as Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy or the more modern comics such as Lee Evans and Jim Carey.

As we start off small with a stumble and gradually escalate throughout the day into full Slapstick and knockabout routines. You can have as many trips, falls, eye pokes and custard pies as you like! Controlled supervision and Safety Mats will be provided.

UNARMED FIGHTS Full day or 2hrs

From Barroom Brawls (with breakables) to Hero Fights. Learn the basic illusions and skilful tricks that make Unarmed Stage Combat fighting safe but convincing. Explore a number of techniques used from slaps and punches to hair pulls and falls. The workshop is taught through a mixture of games and practical techniques and end with a demonstration of your own fight!

HANDGUNS Full day or 2hrs

As recommended by the Stage Management Association: A workshop for those of you who want to learn to handle a Blank Firing Gun either onstage or behind the scenes. Learn how to look like you’re a skilled marksman/woman. Discover how not to upset the Gun Wrangler/Prop dept/SM. This is a comprehensive class based on gun handling techniques and the new UK GUN laws. Learn to load, clean and fire in as safe a manner as possible.

SWASHBUCKLING 2hrs or a Full day

Learn how to ‘Swash your Buckle’ without being ‘cut down to size! In true Errol Flynn style, from Robin Hood to Highway Men. First have a go at the basics of Swordsmanship and then learn the secrets of the old Hollywood style of sword fighting. A technique still used on modern LA film sets. At the end of the day you will have an opportunity to create and perform your own fight scene

BARTITSU 2hrs

The secret Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes and the forerunner to martial arts in Britain. Borrowed from the first Jujitsu classes which came to London in the 19th century, we take a look at a favourite self defence of the Suffragettes including how to defend yourself with walking sticks, boaters and penny farthings!

PRO WRESTLING 2hrs

Over the top fights, rolls, hooks and slams! Learn how to ride the Hook and sell the pain! Have a go at some of the fun theatrical techniques and basic acrobatic moves to make your choreographed fight look like a spontaneous WWF slam down.  Physical close contact work involved.

FOUND WEAPONS 2hrs

This workshop is lots of fun and looks at using everyday objects as weapons. Students are asked to bring an object with them to class for example a coat hanger or a feather duster. It is helpful if the students have a basic understanding of stage combat disciplines. The workshop concludes with a devising a fight with their found weapon.

HARRY POTTER 1-2hrs

Magical mayhem and fantasy fighting illusions. Learn how to dodge from the blast of a magic wand, learn the low down dirty tricks of Draco Malfoy and then fight back magician style. Safe, close contact stage combat and slapstick techniques to create the illusion of magical fights.

MOVEMENT FOR ACTION 2hrs to full day

For students with or without existing movement skills this workshop allows the students to create their own Action sequences from chorus and crowd arrangement to stylised duets. Though the use of tableaux and exercises to build physical structure and dramatic shapes, ideal for abstract theatre and everyday performance.

THAI BOXING 2hrs

Learn about all the tradition and cultural background of the deadliest Martial Art including the rituals and historical background. Have a go at creating your own ritual and learn how to fight safe Thai style.

KNIFE FIGHT 2hrs

Severing the Hollywood Myth from Real Life Knife Crime. The aim of this workshop is to explore the realities of real knife encounters as contrasted with the Film and TV portrayal of knife crime in a safe and enjoyable environment. Participants to explore the risks of a close quarters fight without glorifying violence or knife crime.

S’BLOOD & GUTS! 2hrs

Blood bags, Blood knives, Knives through arms, Blood capsules and brains! Messy but fun Blood FX. Get to grips with the gorier side of fights and mock injuries. Ever wondered how they get the right amount of blood to the right place at the right time? Now is your chance to get stuck in! Remember to bring a change of clothes because you will get messy.

BREAKABLES 2hrs

Create your own Barroom Brawl or domestic Soap Opera scene. Learn how to punch like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood or slap like a Fowler. Surprisingly, it’s much harder than you think being hit over the head with a fake bottle and it hurts too! But the hardest thing is making the break look realistic without everything just shattering into smithereens!

FANTASY FIGHTS 2hrs

Creating your own fully rounded Fantasy Character/creature, the universe it inhabits and then its own unique fight sequence. Characters can be from well known literature, film, computer game or graphic novel or completely unique and inspired by your own imagination.

CUTTHROATS & CUTLASSES A full day or 2hrs

Adrift, amidst a sea adventure: Clever acts of ‘Daring do’ with a generous helping of down right dirty tricks. Pirateering and ‘Slitting of Gizzards’ a must. Cutlasses and Cavalry Sabre’s. First learn how to act and talk like a pirate, then how to look like one and then how to fight like one!

ACTION in the FIGHT and FIGHT into the ACTION 2hrs

Whilst performing you need to be able to communicate with your fight partner in a non verbal way. This class allows you to explore ways of physical combat communication and spurs you keep the spontaneity of reaction, within a choreographed scene. So the fight is an entertaining piece of Action not just a piece of Choreography.

NASTY GROUP BRAWLS 2hrs

How do you build up into a full on, no holds barred nasty and realistic looking fight without actually harming one another. How to messy up your choreography and keep several fighters interacting convincingly. From street fight to extreme fight.

BATTLING THE BARD 2hrs to a full day

Examining a selected Shakespeare text which includes the words…’they fight…’ explore how to stay true to Shakespeare, the characters, time period and setting while creating your dramatic fight. Heighten the dramatic action with script analysis and fight choreography.

FORUM FIGHT 1-2hrs

The Audience/students create their own fight using the Performers as their Guinea Pigs and then learning the routine themselves. They choice the date time and place. Who the fighter are, why they are fighting and then tell the performers what to do next i.e. A Real life Tekken Full fight performance of their fight at the end of the session. WEAPON CHOICE: Broadsword, 18th Century Small Sword, Quarter Staff, Rapier and companion weapon, Unarmed, Fantasy weapons.