BASSC Rapier & Cloak 27th April - 1st May

Rapier & Cloak is a dexterity-driven weapon system—part precision, part sleight-of-hand—where the cloak becomes a true extension of the performer, and absolutely something you want in your skillset before a role demands it, much like tricking with weapons.

Who Is This Course For?

Absolutely everyone. No experience needed!
This course is perfect for:
• Beginners wanting to dive straight into stage combat
• Actors refreshing skills learned at drama school
• Performers adding Rapier & Cloak to their professional toolkit
• SPACT and stunt performers building rock-solid foundations in theatrical weapon technique
• Anyone looking to learn a thrilling new skill, boost coordination, make friends, and have a ridiculous amount of fun

If that sounds like you—this course is made for you.

What Will You Achieve?

By the end, you’ll wield the rapier with confidence and command the cloak like a showstopper—whipping, snapping, swirling, and controlling the space with dramatic flair.
You will learn how to:
• Identify good and poor practice, ensuring safety for yourself and your scene partners
• Use cloak work effectively—manipulating wraps, blocks, blinds, and misdirection
• Integrate text, character, and storytelling into your combat scenes
• Adapt quickly and work effectively with partners
• Boost timing, coordination, physical awareness, and control
• Increase confidence, employability, and earning potential

Walk away with real, performable skills, taught by working industry professionals.

Outside Class Work

The only requirement is learning your scene lines.
We also dedicate class time to directing scenes and getting them performance-ready, so you can practise in a safe, supportive environment.

What to Bring

• Comfortable movement clothes
• A spare top (you will get sweaty!)
• Reusable water bottle
• Something to take notes with
• Gloves for sword work (full-finger leather or gardening gloves, nothing slippery)

No gloves? No problem—we have spares!

Assessment

Yes—an exciting, real-world assessment!
Show off your new skills in a live, public exam-showcase assessed by a BASSC examiner.
Invite friends, family, agents—the more applause, the better.

Industry Relevance

BASSC qualifications are recognised by Equity and taught at top UK drama schools:
• RADA
• Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
• Drama Studio London

Rapier & Cloak, alongside unarmed and other core weapons, is a staple of stage combat training worldwide.
Mastering it gives actors a versatile, industry-ready skill set highly transferable to theatre, film, TV, and motion capture—and provides an excellent base for learning further weapons.

Next Steps

You’ve laid the groundwork—now it’s time to level up with further BASSC training:

Unarmed Progression

• BASS Unarmed
• BASSC Film  Fighting Foundation
• ID Fight’s Foundation in Stunts

Weapon Progression
• Rapier & Dagger
• Knife
• Swashbuckling
• Sword & Shield
• Broadsword
• Smallsword
• Quarterstaff

Supportive Skills
• Combat Lab
• Falling
• Reactions
… and more!