Stage Combat

Did you ever wonder how those elaborate broils in Shakespeare are managed? How does Prince Hal keep from really sticking Hotspur? This will be a lecture and demonstration in the specialized theatre technique of creating the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the actors. Such fight choreography is critical to effectively staging many of Shakespeare’s plays with authenticity. Our guide will be Genevieve Foster, Quartermaster and Instructor for UC Berkeley’s Historical Fencing Club studying Medieval and Renaissance combat.