Workshops are hands-on experiences where students have the opportunity to learn the techniques of stage combat and put them into practice right away. Our workshops are unique, each individually tailored to your needs. These workshops are goal-oriented, designed to target a certain skill or group of skills, teach them to a group of students, and refine them to the point where the skills can be used.

The goal of the workshop will determine its characteristics. A workshop whose goal is to teach a class of twenty how to handle a sword will require at least four hours, and to get beyond the very basics could take a number of sessions. On the other hand, a group of ten could become proficient enough at the basics of hand-to-hand combat to stage a simple brawl in only a couple of hours. Workshop topics include:

Basic hand-to-hand - Western brawling with punches, kicks, and a little wrestling. This would need at least 1 hour.

Physical Comedy - Pratfalls, trips, walking into walls, opening doors into your face, falling out of chairs, and of course, the slap. At least 1 hour.

Secrets of Professional Wrestling - Teaching some of the basic hand-to-hand techniques, but including several flips and throws geared towards a Pro Wrestling style. At least 3 hours.

Stunt/Acrobatics - This would include falls, rolls, flips and throws. At least 2 hours.

Basic Swordplay - This would teach the basics of either the rapier or the longsword. Students with no prior training would acquire a basic set of skills, and would be familiar enough with the combat style to be able to perform a simple fight in a show. The student would reasonably be able to say to a casting director 'Yes, I have a little familiarity with swordplay.' This workshop would require at least 4 hours.

Swordplay for the Stage - This would teach either the rapier or the longsword. This is the level of workshop where the students with no prior training could expect that they would walk out with a level of competence that would enable them to do most anything that a choreographer would require of them with a reasonable amount of rehearsal. After this level of training, an actor would be able to say 'I have some training.' This workshop would require at least 7 hours, and would be better with 12 hours over the course of a few days.

We also are available for residencies, where we come in to teach a class on a regular basis for an extended period of time. These classes can be far more in-depth than a simple workshop and will develop the skills of the students to a much higher level. While most students will not expect to make a living doing stage combat, the skills involved are applicable to any theatrical endeavor, and the discipline involved is a positive advantage no matter what field the students eventually find themselves in.