Unarmed Stage Combat

This stage combat manual would be used mainly for reference after having completed training with a qualified instructor or used in support during training and learning stage fighting techniques, rather than solo learning.

Written by RADA's stage combat teacher, Philip d’Orleans, it is split into three parts:

1. Fundamental principles (acting while you fight, safety, and who sees what and what works where)

2. Performance specifics (acting pain, knapping, and warming up)

3. The essential techniques (over 40 of them including slaps, punches – non-contact, kicks – non-contact, chokes and releases, contact, and the illusion of falling)

The book discusses how to create a character-based fight and explores acting while you fight: maintaining an authentic character from the beginning, how staging and sightlines affect the choice for the technique, vocal choreography and how to perform it safely, knapping, and a detailed examination of pain.