Theatrical Fencing Resources

[Kodiak Kid]

Our group has an opportunity to display our skills in front of the artsy-fartsy crowd at a charity fund raiser. They are having a Medieval theme. {insert double eyeroll here}
I would like to show them a little Medieval, a little 17th Century and some Modern Competition style, in 3, 1 act playlets. "The Evolution of Sword Fighting" if you will...

Not knowing Jack about Theatrical/Historical technique, I'd like to hear what some of you with experience in this field would recommend as a resource. Books? Video? CD?

We have about 4 months to put something together so plenty of time to get weapons, costumes etc.

Your informed thoughts please.

[Strytllr]

I don't know if any but fencers would be able to tell much difference between historical and sport fencing, aside from the amount of blood on the ground.

What you might consider, (try to keep eye rolling to a minimum), is doing an exhibition between stage fighting and sport fencing. The general public assumes that stage fencing is how people fought back in the old days, with great sweeps, dashing spins, jumping, and all around silliness. It's all horribly fake, and horribly fantastic to watch.

Some years ago, I had the chance to help coordinate an event similiar to what you mentioned and that is precisely what we did. We did a number of staged combats using epees (they have a much nicer ring than the clacking of foils, plus they're sturdier), then had one member of the party explain the difference between the stage fencing we just did and the sport fencing we were about to do while the rest of us suited up to show them "real" sword fighting. Our audience loved it so much, they made the event yearly and invited us back several times while I was with the group to put on more exhibits. It was a very nice, fun, and entertaining way to bring about awareness of our group.

It may not be what you're looking to do, but it's worth thinking over.

Good Luck.

[Kodiak Kid]

Actually that's not too far off the mark from what I had in mind, but before I know how to do it "wrong" (theatrical) I'd like to see how to do it "right" (historical). either way though, I need some resources so I can choreograph some scenes.

[duel mom]

search here on this board for fencing FAQ part 3 by Morgan Burke. There is a rated list of movies with fencing. Also just search -movies- to read threads about them. there are polls of the 10 best fencing movies.

[Almightynoitall]

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/rapier.htm
'The Arte of Defense'
very interesting reading...



http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/paradoxes.html
'paradoxes of defense'
again, can be very useful...


and somewhere, I have a book from the twenties with illustrated techniques/parries that would blow your mind... very pretty stuff.

[Popper]

check these guys out...

http://www.chivalrybookshelf.com/

[Christopher J Umbs]

What are you looking to do?
Armored combat?
Unarmored longsword?
Rapier and dagger?

For stage combat, I'd check out the tapes from Anthony De Longis

Chris

[Kodiak Kid]

Chris,

Probably unarmored rapier for one of the scenes.

Armored long sword for another. Kind of depends on what we can come with for gear.

I'll see if i can find the guy you mentioned on the internet.

Thanks a lot!

-K.K.

[Kodiak Kid]

Alrighty then! I just ordered De Longis' video and manual Rapier for the Stage and Screen . This is exactly what I was hoping to find. Hey! Even Nick likes it!!

Thanks for the informative posts...

-K.K.

[Popper]

try this as well...


http://www.martinez-destreza.com/


classical fencing school