This course provides background knowledge, choreography and basic hands-on swordfighting experience for any budding actor, be they Jack Sparrow, Inigo Montoya or Tybalt. Over the course of 4 weeks students will be taught from the curriculum of American and Australian Fight Directors, and by the end will confidently handle a single-handed sword in a choreography of their choosing. A fun-filled and active course instructed by accredited fencing coach, Bas De Groot. Equiment hire included in fee.

Stage Sword Fighting

Course Description

Stage sword fighting combines the drama of live performance with the discipline of historical combat, creating thrilling and believable fight scenes for theatre and film. 

In this hands-on course, you'll learn how to safely use swords as stage props, master core parries and attacks, and explore how acting, choreography, and historical context shape the art of the fight. 

Through physical training and performance, you'll build the skills needed to convincingly and safely duel with a partner on stage or on screen.

Whether you're a performer, director, or just a fan of swashbuckling action, this course offers an active, engaging experience. 

You’ll progress from footwork and fundamentals through to rehearsed combat choreography, with increasing complexity each week. 

All drills are designed to build confidence, safety awareness, and performance realism. 

By the end of the course, you’ll present a choreographed stage duel in front of a live audience and receive constructive feedback on your performance.

All equipment, including swords and safety gear, is provided by the tutor.

Course Structure

Over six sessions, the course builds from the basics of sword safety and movement to the staging of full choreographed fights. 

Each class begins with a warm-up and footwork drills, before moving into specific swordplay skills such as parries, thrusts, distance control, and ripostes. 

You’ll work in pairs to practise these techniques using wooden and metal swords (with safety gear as needed), guided by demonstrations and supported by group drills. 

Along the way, you'll explore how mood, character, and context influence how a stage fight is performed. 

In the final session, you’ll present a short staged duel, receiving feedback and a certificate of completion.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Safely handle and use a stage sword in performance settings.
• Explain the relationship between historical sword fighting, modern fencing, and stage fencing.
• Recognise how historical context, acting style, and story influence stage combat scenes.
• Confidently adopt and maintain fighting stances used in historical swordplay.
• Demonstrate safe and effective body mechanics for stage fencing.
• Perform basic parries and attacks using a single-handed cut-and-thrust sword.
• Rehearse and perform simple stage combat choreography with a partner.
• Apply safety principles and stagecraft techniques during simulated sword fights.
• Use stage fighting as a tool for storytelling in theatre or film.
• Receive and apply feedback to improve performance technique and choreography.

Your Tutor is Bas De Groot

Bas de Groot has been with the WEA since 2024.

Bas de Groot was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

As a young boy Bas became obsessed with history.  From Roman times to World War 2, and especially the Middle Ages and the Napoleonic period.

By 12-years of age Bas decided he wanted to know all the things a Georgian Era gentleman had to know, like dancing, fencing, shooting, horse-riding and archery. Therefore when he was in his teens he got into Modern Olympic Fencing and ballroom dancing and Living History. And then in his early twenties expanded into historical dancing and shooting, and occasional horseriding. In his thirties, in 2012, he emigrated to Australia with his partner and two children, where he now works as a school support officer, WEA tutor, Historical Swordfighting instructor and part-time Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master.