Stage combat
From Free net encyclopedia
Stage Combat is a specialized method of physical theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat for theatrical, operatic and ballet productions. The term may also be informally used to describe fight choreography for other production media including film and television.
Stage combat is intended to convey a visual and auditory impression of real fighting, in keeping with the style and character of the production, but in which none of the performers are harmed. In this sense, stage combat is a form of carefully choreographed dance performed by actors and stunt artists.
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History
Aristotle is quoted as noting that "conflict is the essense of drama". Although the physical enactment of combat was not a feature of ancient Greek or Roman theater, traditional dances such as the pyrrachia served a similar purpose, being mimetic representations of combat techniques performed as public entertainment.
European stage combat has an extensive history reaching at least as far back as the Elizabethan era. It is speculated that Richard Tarleton, who was a member of both William Shakespeare's acting company and of the London Masters of Defence weapons guild, was among the first fight directors in the modern sense.
The tradition extends even further in Asia. Stage combat has been a staple feature of traditional Japanese (Kabuki tachimawari, Chinese (Beijing Opera) and Indian performing arts for centuries.
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, fight scenes in touring theatrical productions throughout Europe, the British Commonwealth and the USA were typically simple combinations of well-known, generic routines. At about the same time, fencing masters in Europe began to research and experiment with "ancient" combat methods with weapons such as the two-handed sword, rapier and smallsword, and to instruct actors in their use.
By the mid-late 20th century, due partly to the confluence of theatrical disciplines being taught at drama schools around the world, these two "streams" had combined with skills drawn from professional wrestling, mime, modern fencing, Asian martial arts and similar disciplines to form the basis of modern stage combat.
Techniques
Stage combat training includes unarmed combat skills such as illusory slaps, punches, kicks, throwing and holding techniques; various forms of historical fencing such as rapier and dagger, smallsword and the two-handed sword; and more specialised skills such as professional wrestling and different styles of martial arts. However, stage combat can include literally any form of choreographed violence and the options are limitless, depending on the dramatic requirements of any given script and the creative choices of the director and fight director.
Fight scenes in theatre
The combat phase of a play rehearsal is referred to as a fight call. The primary concern of fight choreographers and stage combatants is ensuring the safety of the performers and audience. Even stage combat is risky, and it is preferable for actors to have as much training and experience as possible. A show which includes a great deal of fighting will typically be supervised by a professional fight choreographer and will also include a fight captain, who runs fight calls and ensures that actors are remaining safe throughout the duration of the show.
"Realism" in fight choreography
Fight choreography can vary widely from true realism to outright fantasy.
In general, the realism and historical/cultural accuracy quotients are decided by the dramatic effect desired by the director and the fight choreographer.
For example, the Hong Kong based fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping is famed for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix trilogy, in which the often unrealistic fighting techniques are complemented by directorial techniques such as bullet time. Ching Siu-tung is particularly noted in the field of Hong Kong action cinema for his use of graceful wire fu techniques.
By contrast, films such as The Duellists, fight directed by William Hobbs and Once Were Warriors, fight directed by Robert Bruce are widely famed for their gritty, realistic combat scenes.
The Star Wars films, the fights for which are choreographed by Nick Gillard, tend to portray swordsmanship techniques drawn from existing martial arts, but are performed with fantasy weapons such as lightsabers or The Force, whereas the action featured in the Lord of the Rings trilogy employed specifically designed fantasy weapons and fighting styles.
Stage combat training
Actors typically begin learning stage combat during their training at drama school. Most drama schools in the USA, Canada, the UK, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand offer basic stage combat training courses, typically supervised by certified fight directors and/or stage combat teachers. Numerous training workshops are also offered around the world, incorporating more advanced and/or diverse methods of stage combat.
The primary institution for stage combat in the US is the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) which provides training and offers the only widely-recognized certification for actor/combatants.
As of 2005 East 15 Acting School, London now offers a 3 year BA Honours Degree in Specialist Performance Skills (Stage Combat), it is the only course of its kind in the world and only 16 students are taken per year.
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