Stage Combat Certification - Sword and Shield (18+)

Week One : Fundamental Techniques

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of stage combat as a performance art, and apply them to the sword & shield, including targeting, safety, movement, attacks and defences.

Week Two: Fundamental Techniques

We will refine the techniques learned in week one and introduce more advanced techniques in short sequences, using both instruments for both attack and defence. At the end of this week you will decide your partner for the exam.

Week Three: Choreography & Acting The Fight

We will drill complex sequences, and experiment with how to tell a story physically, before being introduced to the choreography you will use for your fight performance exam. By the end of this week you should know what scene you will use for your exam.

Week Four: Scene Direction

You will block and walk through your fight in the context of your scene, creating a story with compelling characters and moments, using the choreography in service of the text. You will rotate through the space, spending time outside the room running lines and doing character work.

Week Five: Rehearsals

You will run your fight in rotation and receive direction to improve toward your Fight Performance Exam.

Week Six: Dress Rehearsal & Exam

You will warm up your fight in rotation and then perform for the examiner, with the potential for a recall after the exam.

The course is designed so that self-motivated students will benefit most from the training. We expect you to undertake a certain amount of self-directed study and preparation out with class times.

Students should be open, honest, generous, respectful, hard-working and willing to work in partnership with others as a collaborator.

This course will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 6pm – 9pm, from 5 November – 12 December 2024.

Week One:
Tuesday, 5th November
Thursday, 7th November

Week Two:
Tuesday, 12 November
Thursday 14 November

Week Three:
Tuesday, 19 November
Thursday, 21 November

Week Four:
Tuesday, 26 November
Thursday, 28 November

Week Five:
Tuesday, 3 December
Thursday, 5 December

Week Six:
Tuesday, 10 December
Thursday, 12 December

• Plan and prepare to attend all classes – absences may result in being unable to take the Fight Performance Exam
• Communicate any access needs in advance
• Commit lines to memory outside of session time
• Engage with the supporting materials sent out ahead and throughout the course
• Dress comfortably in clothes which are suitable for the activity you are taking part in
• Bring a notepad and pen/pencil to make notes
• Please bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during your class and snacks to keep energy high
• Bring protective clothing – gloves at a minimum, knee or elbow pads if you use them

BASSC Certified Teacher, director and action designer Rob Myles. Rob is the principal instructor for Stage Fight Scotland. As a stage fighter, Rob has worked with the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe in London, as well as designing action for both stage and screen, including Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of Four for Blackeyed Theatre and Sus at The Park Theatre.

A former martial artist and historical fencer, Rob began his journey in this artform 15 years ago, training in Japan with Kamui Samurai Dojo, who choreographed the final fight in Kill Bill Vol. 1. Outside Stage Combat, Rob is a globally recognised figure in both Shakespeare and Digital Theatre. For more information visit robmyles.co.uk

The British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat was founded in 1993 with the aim of improving the standards of safety, quality and training of stage combat and promoting a unified code of practice for the training, teaching and assessing of stage combat within the United Kingdom.

​Since its formation the BASSC has established a reputation as the invigorating driving force behind the evolution of stage combat in the United Kingdom and is respected, both nationally and internationally, as the leading provider of professional level stage combat training. BASSC teachers provide stage combat training at RADA, Royal Central, and many more leading drama schools across the UK.

Credit-rated short courses are designed in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

It is worth 10 SCQF credits and 5 ECTS credits. This course is set at SCQF level 7.*

*subject to validation

By studying a credit-rated short course, students can benchmark their learning against national standards, and credits may be used towards further education programmes at many institutions throughout the world.

There is an additional fee of £100 to take part in the credit-rated portion of the course. Please ensure you have already signed up to the course via the Book Now button on the webpage. Once you have completed that, please sign up for the credit-rated option, by completing this booking form:

Credit-rated Booking Form

By studying a credit-rated course, you will need to be matriculated to RCS*, we require some additional information from credit-rated students for this reason. Please read through the section below thoroughly before you submit. If you have any questions about what is required, please email credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk and we can help you.

* Please note although Credit-Rated Short Courses students require matriculation to get their accreditation, you will not be a full time matriculated student of RCS. Credit-Rated Short Courses do not qualify for student visas due to the short term nature of the course. You will also not qualify for a student email address or student card.

Please read the following eligible evidence dependant on your nationality and immigration status:

Scottish/Welsh/English/Northern Irish (Please provide 1 of the following)
– Passport
– UK Driving Licence
– Other Photo ID

Irish (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport

Europeans with Settled or Pre-Settled Status (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Online Immigration Status (via Sharecode)

Europeans (post-Brexit) (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Proof of Entry to the UK
– Online Immigration Status (via Sharecode)

Non-Europeans who can use the e-gates (Nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan) (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Proof of Entry to the UK
– Vignette
– Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Online Credit Rated courses:
– if studying an online credit-rated course from your own country (outside of UK) you are only required to submit your passport.
– if studying an online credit-rated course within the UK, but do not hold a UK passport, please follow the guidance from above.

The Credit Rated or Admissions team may require further information or proof from individuals, and may be in contact with you to provide further evidence.

Providing a ShareCode
If you are providing a ShareCode as part of your evidence please visit https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and follow the instructions to access your code, and provide it in the Experience section of the Booking Form.