How can I fake falling down a flight of stairs realistically yet safely?

Question

I am performing in a play, in which my character tumbles violently down a flight of stairs. Does anyone know of any stage combat techniques to make it look as violent as possible while still ensuring my safety as a performer? The play has a small budget, so there is no money for a "fight choreographer". Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Don't "fall" down the stairs front ways... go sideways. E.g. the same way you roll down a hill. That way there will be less impact on your body.

Practise it! If you use your hands to control your fall but keep the fall realistic by keeping it's speed up, you should be a lot safer. E.g. try to take the impact of each step by using your hands to cushion it.

You should be able to wave your legs wildly while keeping your hands under control. Make sure the audience can see your legs flopping all over the place, that will make it look like your whole body is doing the same.

Don't hold your hands over your head, that will turn you into a ball which could damage your spine as well as giving you no control over the fall.

The more noise you make falling down the stairs the nastier the tumble will sound.

Make sure you don't fall down concrete stairs. That shouldn't be an option.

You could cover the stairs with foam but that would detract from the realism.

Try watching some movies with people falling down stairs. You might be able to copy their style.

I think the main point here is practise. The more you do it the better you will get. Start slowly, and build speed bit by bit as you find the least painful and least dangerous way.

Good luck!!!!! :D

Answer 2

Lol, when I first saw the main title, I thought it was insurance fraud. But any hoo, I don't have any experience with that, but just wanted to say, dont tumble down the stairs. If you hit your head just right you could snap a vertebrae and be paralyzed or worse.
If it were me, I'd be armed with some football padding, but I'm sure thats too bulky and probably expensive. If nothing else use a good pair of elbow and knee pads and attempt to do a fall that turns into a belly slide down the stairs. While doing the belly slide down the stairs, use your elbows to help support your weight off of your torso. Let the elbow/knee pads take the ride.

Answer 3

Using the rolling technique you first impact should be 2nd or third stair down with forearm. Contact topfloor level with just below top of shoulder on back simultaneously place hand on next step for stability during roll. The hard part is lining it all up on the second roll. Shoulder blade & hand then forearm.I use the forearm flat on the step because it's flat & I can spread the load. I tried grabbing the edge but it's too obvious.

Answer 4

Use the banisters to control your fall; if you get down the stairs quick enough, with noise and flailing, and a little rolling, you will get the point across nicely.

Answer 5

Cover the stairs in 2"-3" soft foam. Takes a while but will save plenty of contusions.

Answer 6

Here's another angle: "Juice up" the fall with judicious sound effects from under the stairs.

If it's a comedy, add a cat under the bottom stair. (Rule of thumb: X cats for 2X performances.)

P.S. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., known for his stunt work, had things built so that he could reach them gracefully.

Answer 7

soft foam is the way to go. Make the stairs out of wood then put soft foam on them they came in alot of colors. cost $10.00-40.00 depens on how much and how big you need then to be. if that cost to much you can buy spray foam for insulation and spary it on the stairs then paint it .
hope that helps

Answer 8

ummm i think you have to keep your hand above your head kinda like you're tumbling.