Intro to Stage Combat

        Welcome to Stage Combat, I am glad you've expressed interest in learning about this art. As this is an introduction, I will start from the very fundamentals of Stage Combat.  I would like to start this off on the right foot by letting you all know that I am NOT a certified stage combatant, everything included here is simply the things I have learned over years of attending workshops and classes, I hope to further my education so that I may know much more about intriguing art that is stage combat. If there are things you do differently than myself, or things that you think could be added to my knowledge, please feel free to contribute. There are many important things to know about stage combat, but I will start with what I call "the rules"; these are not all the rules, however, they are an excellent start.

1. Safety first, always make sure you and your fellow performers are safe. If you ever feel unsafe, unsure or uncomfortable in a combat sequence or when training, shout HOLD, particularly if you feel that the situation is dangerous or could quickly become dangerous. Calling HOLD means all performers must freeze and stay where they are for safety. Never be afraid to call HOLD, it is better to call it unnecessarily than to risk your safety or the safety of your fellow performers. 

2.  Always ask for consent before working with any partner, consent can be both verbal and non-verbal, you should always judge consent based upon BOTH your partner's words and their behavior. If you ask "may I give you a hug?" and your partner replies "sure" but also shies away from your advances, this is a CLEAR indicator that your partner wishes not to be hugged. This may seem somewhat personal, however it is not, it is simply how your partner feels and that MUST be respected. If you must push the boundaries of what your partner is comfortable with in order to do what your director desires, talk to your partner and your director and address what could be done to help your partner feel comfortable. If you ever feel uncomfortable with something that another performer is doing, or with something your director wants you to do, SPEAK UP; you are your best advocate and most performers and directors will adjust to help you feel comfortable and respected. 

3.  Make eye contact, this is extremely important because if you fail to make eye contact with your partner this is the greatest chance of accident or injury if either performer makes a mistake. If eye contact is made, it is understood that both performers know what is happening and can move and adjust to it, even if it isn't what was rehearsed and practiced (things can always go wrong, focus on what you can do to minimize that). If eye contact is not made, DO NOT ENGAGE. In most cases, eye contact = consent (though it still never hurts to ask.)

4. Check your "weapon" distance, although you may not be using a weapon, (unarmed combat includes slaps, punches, choke-holds, kicks, rolls, falls, and more) and always make sure that you will not injure your partner in any way before engaging with them. If the distance of your weapon is not respected, very bad things can happen, even if your "weapon" does not seem threatening, any object can cause injury to your partner if not respected and treated properly. 

   
   

  *This article was written by Amber True, one of True Troupe Theatre's founders and their Stage Combat advisor. Amber has taken workshops and classes for stage combat since 2014, and her next step in her career is to become certified with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD).  Some of Amber's specialties include unarmed combat, and stage intimacy. Amber has an associate's degree in theatre with Laramie County Community College, and is working on a bachelor's degree with the University of Wyoming. Amber enjoys tennis, hiking, playing with dogs and doing various art projects in her spare time.