Stand Out in Auditions with Stage & Screen Combat

In the competitive world of drama school auditions and the broader realms of TV, film, and theatre, casting directors and industry gatekeepers are always on the lookout for performers who bring something extra to the table. Learning an invaluable skill like stage and screen combat can help you stand out. Mastering this discipline enhances your performance capabilities and versatility, and in a field where every advantage counts, stage combat can be a game-changer. Need a reason to add it to your portfolio? Here are four:

1. Expand Your Repertoire

Combat experience opens the door to more roles, especially in action-heavy or historical productions—think Shakespeare, Killing Eve, or Game of Thrones…Playing a white knight or a villainess is one thing, but executing fight choreography seamlessly is another. Actors who can perform their own combat scenes without stunt doubles are far more valuable, and as a result, more favorable in the eyes of casting directors.

2. Enhance Physical Awareness and Safety

Stage combat training builds spatial awareness and physical safety. It teaches actors to execute fight choreography in a believable and controlled way, ensuring both the performance and scene partners stay safe. Take BOVTS alumni Daniel Day-Lewis as an example. For Gangs of New York (2002), he trained extensively in 19th-century street-fighting techniques. These stage and screen combat techniques played dividends in his overall portrayal of Bill the Butcher. With so many nuanced mannerisms in movement and seamless fight choreography, would his on-screen presence be as captivating or dynamic?

Photo Credits: Miramax, Touchstone Pictures

3. Build Trust and Teamwork

Combat scenes demand trust and collaboration between actors, and through stage combat training, performers develop strong communication skills and learn to work cohesively with others. These abilities are an essential weapon (pun intended) in the actor’s toolkit for ensemble casts. Often assessed in chemistry reads when working with a partner in high-action sequences, these techniques and prior experiences show professionalism and adaptability, all qualities that leave a lasting impression with directors and producers.

4. Gain Professional Recognition

Structured combat training, like our Spring Stage & Screen Combat youth course running this April, will provide physical training and learning with the option to take an industry-recognised qualification. Credentials like these, are hard to come by. They can prove your dedication, expertise and competitive edge when performing or auditioning. With age-based classes running for four days this spring between April 7th – 17th, we highly encourage those aged 16 -18 with aspirations for drama school or as a performer to add this one to their portfolio.

Final Thoughts

Stage and screen combat training is an invaluable tool for actors and performers. Whether you’re building physical confidence, safety awareness or teamwork, this training makes you a compelling candidate for casting professionals. Sign up for the Stage & Screen Combat course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School today. 

Photo Credit: Lionsgate Films

If you’re looking to add or enhance existing performance or technical skills, we have a wide range of short courses for both youth and adult creatives.