Stage Combat

Stage Combat is an exciting new performance art that focuses on the study and practice of safe, effective illusions of violence, whether it be unarmed or with a variety of weapons, all for the stage and screen. It derives its influences from all forms of personal combat, from Period European and Asian fighting styles to modern realistic fighting, slapstick, dramatic or the fantastic. National acting institutions such as NIDA, VCA and QUT, as well as professional theatre companies including the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and Opera Australia, have all appreciated the safety and effectiveness of these modern stage-fighting techniques.

Stage combat training has been incorporated in the USQ Department of Theatre's Bachelor of Theatre Arts actor training program for many years, seeing its acting major graduates examined and certified by the Society of Australian Fight Directors.

In 2006, USQ is proud present a special Workshops Day performance by RAND Theatre entitled Beware: Entrance to a Quarrel. 

Class Activity

Very often sounds accompany stylised action. With this in mind select a soundtrack that is slow or monotonous - one that doesn't offer too much diversity in tempo - that will accompany this activity. Think of slow motion when you are making your choice. Now, ask your class to divide into pairs. Explain that they are going to simulate a fight scene (in slow motion) so that every action will cause a reaction. Start slowly and stress how important it is that no physical contact is to be made. When you develop this activity to a proficient level you may be able to take it to the next level with the use of floor mats. There is a technique to falling and a physical education teacher should be able to instruct in the correct procedure.