Proper way to have a fight on stage...?

Question

How do you properly have a fight on stage without getting hurt? I have to have a fight with a guy and I need to know the proper guidelines.

Answer 1

Stage combat should NOT be attempted by students without adult supervision! No way, no how, not ever!!

If I seem like I'm shouting, it's because I am. This is so, so important. I have seen people get hurt, badly, during stage fights that weren't properly rehearsed.

Please, ask your teacher for help with this one. If he/she is unwilling to assist you, DON'T do the scene. All of the tricks by the above poster work well--but ONLY if supervised by someone who is not actually involved in the fight. It is *impossible* to act a fight with 100% concentration and commitment while also keeping an eye on safety--you need a third party who knows what they're doing to do that for you.

Stage combat is lots of fun when done safely. Please get some help and then you'll be free to relax and enjoy it!

Answer 2

The only "proper" way to perform stage combat is to enlist the services of a certified Fight Choreographer. These people are trained not only to make a fight exciting and realistic-looking, but they're also experts on how to keep actors SAFE while fighting onstage.

If you stay around the theatre for any length of time, you'll learn this: ALL actors think they "know" how to stage a fight. They don't, and that's how people get badly hurt. Personally, I won't participate in a staged combat sequence without having a choreographer to work with, and, as a director, I won't allow actors to mess around with this stuff unless I bring in a choreographer to work with them.

Answer 3

Work out the motions exactly ahead of time. Run through them ad nauseum in slow motion.

Choking is easy to fake. Put both hands at the base of the neck and squeeze the shoulders instead of the throat.

An open handed slap to the face can be painless if the slapper keeps his fingers together but relaxed and the slappee turns his head with the 'blow' (it looks like the force was enough to throw someone's head to the side)

A gut punch is an effective technique in a real fight. For the stage make sure the puncher stops short as you double over. (Again, it looks like its from the affect of the blow but it really hides that the blow came up short.)

Slamming your foot down *near* the other player's foot looks like you stomped on them.

If the other player is on the ground he can curl up with his back to the audience and you can pretend to kick him in the stomach. Again, make sure you stop short of actual contact

If both of you end up on the ground you can tussle around, grabbing at each others clothing and pulling hair (don't really pull it).

Then there's the classic - being thrown behind a bush or a larg piece of furniture and staying safely away as your fellow actor kicks the air and you make grunting noises.

And I'll repeat this. Practice it in slow motion so you can do it the same every time, then gradually speed up. You may end up with a few bruises, but you shouldn't get seriously injured. Err on the side of stopping short rather than complete verisimilitude.

I might also recommend looking at a judo class in the area. It will teach you to fall and how to shove each other around without hurting each other. (You'll also learn how to flip someone over your hip, which might be impressive for a stage performance if you can put down a mat)

Answer 4

You choreograph everything down to the last movement. If you have access to a combat instructor I'd even ask them to choreograph it for you. Stage fighting is no joke, been there.....and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse....don't leave anything to chance.
Accidents happen but if you've choreographed it and rehearsed it you will be better off. Good luck!

Answer 5

ACTING IS INSTINCT
DO NOT CHOREAGRAPH IT DO WHAT COMES TO YOU WHEN IT HAPPENS,LIVE IN THE MOMENT.
THATS WHAT ACTING IS ABOUT.
REPLY TO WHAT HE SAYS INSTEAD OF SAYING YOUR LINES
IF YOUR INSTINCTS TELL YOU TO SLAP HIM THEN SLAP HIM