BASSC Quarterstaff 6th - 10th July

Yes, the quarterstaff is a broom handle all grown up but don't underestimate this humble weapon. Used by such Hollywood legends as Kevin Costner (Robin Hood Prince of Thieves), Eddie Murphy (Coming To America) and Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), the staff is the weapon of choice when you want to stick it to them!

Readily available and cheap, the staff has been a favored weapon for both western and eastern warriors for centuries.

Who Is This Course For?

Open to all.

This course is ideal for:
• Performers excited to explore the bold, sweeping, cinematic flair of Quarterstaff work
• Performers looking to add a recognised BASSC Quarterstaff qualification to their professional toolkit
• Martial arts enthusiasts curious about how their skills translate into theatrical, collaborative staff work
• Anyone keen to learn a big, characterful weapon system used across fantasy, historical drama, martial arts cinema, sci-fi action, and stylised theatre.

If you’ve ever wanted to stride into a room, plant a staff with great significance, and announce yourself unnecessarily… this course is for you.

What Will I Achieve?

By the end of the course, you’ll confidently apply the core principles of safe, high-energy theatrical weapon work with a solid technical grounding in BASSC Quarterstaff. You’ll learn how to:

• Master quarterstaff choreography: powerful strikes, changeable distances and fast movement.
• Hit rhythms and beats with clarity, even in the biggest, most flamboyant movements.
• Practise safely while navigating the wide ranges, spins, sweeps, and full-body mechanics of staff work (including techniques inspired by traditional Western and Eastern martial arts).
• Perform a full choreographed quarterstaff fight for assessment.
• Weave in text, character and real narrative stakes.
• Sharpen timing, coordination, physical storytelling, and spatial awareness.

You leave bolder, braver, and ready to spin, strike, flourish, and storm into any scene.

Anything To Do Outside Class?

Just learn your scene lines.
We’ll also dedicate time in class to directing scenes and getting them performance-ready.

Do I Need to Bring Anything?

• Comfortable movement clothes
• A spare top (it will get sweaty — all fitness levels welcome)
• A reusable water bottle
• Something to take notes with
• Gloves suitable for weapon work (full-finger leather or gardening gloves — nothing slippery or bulky)
If you don’t have gloves, we can loan you a pair.

Is There an Assessment?

Yes — an exciting one!
On the final day, you’ll perform a staged Quarterstaff fight scene in a full exam-showcase assessed by an external BASSC examiner.
The exam is open to the public, so — with the teacher’s approval — you may invite friends, family, agents, or anyone you want to impress. You can also watch future exams as part of our brilliant, supportive community.

Industry Relevance

BASSC qualifications are recognised by Equity and taught at leading UK drama schools, including:
• RADA
• Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
• Drama Studio London
…and many more across the UK and worldwide.

Quarterstaff appears widely in fantasy adventures, medieval epics, wuxia and martial arts films, superhero action, sci-fi combat, motion capture, and contemporary theatre.
Training in Quarterstaff equips actors to collaborate confidently with fight directors and stunt coordinators across a huge range of productions.

What Can I Do Next?

You’ve built a strong foundation — keep levelling up with further BASSC training, either as standalone courses or toward Intermediate or Advanced Actor Combatant status.

Weapon Options

• Rapier & Dagger
• Knife
• Smallsword
• Sword & Shield
• Broadsword
• Swashbuckling
• Rapier & Cloak
• ID Fight Foundation in Stunts

Unarmed Progression

• BASSC Unarmed
• BASSC Film Fighting Foundation: Unarmed
• ID Fight Foundation in Stunts

Supportive Skills

• Combat Lab
• Falling
• Reactions
…more on the way!