Training & Workshops
for Educators and Events

From the classroom to the stage

At Theatrica, we are passionate about introducing learners of all ages to the wonderful world of stage combat through our unique perspective and approach. Let us show you what drove Othello to kill Desdemona; the historical evolution of medieval warfare; or even how Peter Pan manages to elude Captain Hook. Stage combat is more than just a fight; it is how stories are told and history is remembered.

Our hands-on workshops are perfect for a wide range of humanities and arts curriculums. We focus on how dramatic violence can support emotional apexes and turning points in stories, as well as how actions (or lack thereof) can provide insight into a character’s personality and motivations. We are excited to nurture students’ interest in English, History, and the Arts.

Have an idea? We are happy to discuss custom workshops!

Performances

It doesn’t matter if you’d like a selection of scenes or a full show, our Gladiators can work with any event/entertainment venue to provide an exciting and engaging show for your audience

Stage Combat Workshops

From sticks to firearms, swords to unarmed combat, we can supplement your existing theater, acting, or stage combat lessons with new exercises and movement styles. Our hands-on workshops range from small samplings that fit into your class schedule to longer intensives and can be tailored to students (ages 10+) of all experience levels.

Bringing literary classics & history to life

If your students struggle with “Shakespeare doesn’t make sense” or “Why should I care about history?”, we can help. By reenacting classic fights (e.g. Macbeth v. Macduff or Romeo v. Tybalt), discussing the evolution of weapons and warfare throughout history, or demonstrating how the narrative arc can be applied to telling the story of a fight, we can complement your English, history, and creative writing lessons with a new perspective on combat and violence.

After School Programs

Help students cultivate a love for the arts with exciting theater, movement, and stage combat programs, even outside the classroom. Perfect for students in elementary, middle, and high school, we theme our semester-long classes based on the students’ interests. Past program themes have included Jedi Academy, Assassins Creed parkour and movement, and theater basics. In addition to teaching a love for theater and swinging lightsabers, our programs also teach leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Medieval Studies and Combat

Tailored to scholars of medieval studies, our team of medieval studies experts, translators, and reenactors can provide talks on and demonstrations of historical combat. Talks are centered around combat manuals, the latest translations by HEMA groups, and interpretations of historical fencing techniques. Fighters can then provide live demonstrations (either to accompany the lecture or as a standalone event) of historical and stage combat techniques.

Examples of Workshops

• Introduction to stage combat

• Introduction to filming action

• Production training (e.g. weapon safety and handling for stage and production managers, how to run a fight call)

• Text analysis (bringing words to life)

• Weapon management and safety

• Creating effective fight narratives

• History of warfare (through different eras)

• Combat manuals and medieval studies

• “Philosophy and Martial Styles of the Jedi”