Book Review: STAGE COMBAT: ARMED (RAPIER & DAGGER) by Roger Bartlett, Nick Hern Books

“This book is about portraying a safe and dramatically effective staged fight using rapier and dagger,” so begins Roger Bartlett’s latest volume. From the large-scale battles in The Lord of the Rings to the intimate denouement in a production of Hamlet at your local theatre, stage combat is as essential a character as a protagonist can be. A badly choreographed sword fight can shatter even the tightest dramatic illusion. This is the chance to learn the best technique directly from a Master Teacher who’s accredited with the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat. 

Revolutionary in its approach, Bartlett’s book is an outstanding tool. Whether you’re a layman with an interest in the art of stage combat, a student, or a professional in need of brushing up on your skills, you will find Bartlett’s teachings invaluable. Complete with pictures and direct links to online video demonstrations, the very nature of the work is steeped in practicality. The spiral binding allows the title to be left open while you practise, and the division into short, accessible chapters makes it a straightforward guide. 

The writing is affable and refrains from patronising its reader, too. Bartlett succeeds in avoiding an onslaught of terminology and hard-to-decode definitions, opting for clear explanations and handy end-of-chapter summaries. He breaks down every motion with pointed clarity and defines all foreign terms so that the target audience can better understand the foundations of the craft.

He also briefly tackles the different historical uses of rapiers and daggers, and how their employment has a distinct impact on body language and movement. Alongside the specific attacks and responses, Bartlett continually reminds (and sometimes urges) the actor to act. A performer himself, he suggests that a successful stage fight doesn’t weaken the flow between the straight scenes and the physical confrontation between them.

Slipping into a highly technical and frequently dangerous sequence might push the actor to break character, mentally checking out from their performance to engage in controlled choreography that’s safe for all parties. It’s paramount that you resist this mistake. Similarly, it’s also important to react accordingly.

He often switches up his exposition to address the reader with a few active questions, making one reflect on the essence of a real-life fight, where the actions are usually accompanied by reactive sounds and damage assessment. Regardless of your artistic field, we are sure that Stage Combat: Armed (Rapier & Dagger) will become your go-to handbook for period productions.