Bladed Weapons for the Stage: Building a Battle from Forge to Fight Call

Abstract

I set out to write a SIP that would be an overview of stage combat- both a tool bag for student fight directors in the future and an analysis of my experience as the assistant fight director on this show from start to finish: history, sword making, choreography and direction. I drew from readings, practical experience, and any personal accounts I could get from people who had experience with stage combat in professional theaters. I spent three full months thinking about swords for at least eight hours per day- and I wouldn1t have had it any other way. All in all; it was a pretty spectacular ride.