Advanced Workshops

Our Advanced Workshops are semi-regular invite-only sessions, designed to bring together experienced students from our community. If you've done 60 hours or more of accredited training, that's you! Keep your training fresh, develop new skills, and push yourself as an action performer. 

Every session is standalone, but is designed to build on the skills you've learned in other workshops and in the industry. Keep training, keep learning, and keep levelling up, whether you’ve just graduated from basic training, or are an experienced industry professional. Explore themes including advanced technique drills, industry scenarios, combat-adjacent activities, and much more.

Every workshop consists of two sessions, sometimes themed, sometimes unrelated. Sign up for the morning session (1000-1300), the afternoon session (1400-1700), or get a discount by signing up for the whole day. And don't worry if you haven't done the specific discipline the class is themed around before - part of becoming an advanced performer is applying your skills to unfamiliar scenarios.

We ask our teachers to recommend suitable students from courses they run. If you wish to attend these classes but do not know a certified ID teacher willing to vouch for you, then please send a CV to [email protected] and explain how you feel you meet the criteria under "Who Are Advanced Workshops For?" below. We may require you to do a trial session with us before we add you to the invite list. We look forward to inviting you into our community!

From time to time, we're thrilled to welcome guest teachers, often international friends visiting from overseas.  On rare occasions we may adjust an Advanced Workshop theme at short notice to offer a unique class driven by their special expertise.

Who Are Advanced Workshops For?

These classes are invite-only sessions, designed to maximise training time by avoiding the need to teach the basic principles of stage and screen combat safety and technique.  Our entry criteria are:

• Fundamental skills - Must be able to recall and demonstrate the basic safeties and techniques of both unarmed and sword combat for stage/screen
• Training commitment - Must have at least 60 hours of training and/or practical experience of stage/screen combat
• Performance excellence - Must have shown the ability to perform at a high standard under pressure (for example, by getting a distinction grade in one or more exams)
• Training mindset - Must have demonstrated a positive attitude towards the importance of continued training for skill maintenance and growth
• Classroom attitude - Must be able to work well with others within a classroom environment, being both a good student and good partner, to help yourself and others grow
  

What Will I Achieve?

By attending Advanced Workshops, you’ll consistently strengthen your core principles of safe, dynamic combat, whether unarmed or with weapons. You’ll develop breadth, confidence, and adaptability as you learn to:

• Apply your skills in a variety of challenging contexts and activities
• Improve your ability to adapt at speed to new choreography, new partners, new environments, and new tools
• Improve timing, coordination, physical awareness, consistency and control
• Build confidence in your training and presence in performance
• Strengthen your employability by maintaining and expanding a versatile skill set

You will also network with other experienced students and industry professionals, expanding your knowledge of how the industry functions, and taking the next step in your career growth.

Anything To Do Outside Class?

No homework - just enthusiasm.

Advanced Workshops are designed as a training space, and everything you need to participate, practise, or perform is built into the session. However, you will be expected to have all your previously-learned skills at your fingertips. You will get the most from the session if you come to it confident in your fundamental safeties and techniques.

Do I Need to Bring Anything?

• Comfortable movement clothes
• A reusable water bottle
• Something to take notes with
• Gloves for weapon work (full-finger leather or gardening gloves—nothing slippery or bulky)

If you don’t have gloves, we have spares.

Is There an Assessment?

No. Advanced Workshops are an elite training gym, not an exam course.

However, many classes will include opportunities to perform phrases, polish choreography, or shoot short action clips. You’ll receive continuous, constructive feedback and professional-level coaching.

Industry Relevance

Stage and screen combat is an increasingly vital skill across theatre, film, TV, motion capture, immersive performance, live events, and SPACT-based work.

Whether you're training for drama school auditions, working professionally, teaching, or levelling up your action toolkit, training at our Advanced Workshops keeps your skills fresh and current, enabling you to step into your roles with confidence. It’s also a great place to network within a supportive community of similarly committed performers and practitioners.

What Can I Do Next?

Advanced Workshops are designed to be part of your long-term training ecosystem. Keep levelling up by combining them with other courses and disciplines, such as accredited weapon systems with the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat. These Equity-recognised qualifications include:

• Unarmed
• Film Fighting Foundation: Unarmed
• Rapier & Dagger
• Knife
• Swashbuckling
• Sword & Shield
• Broadsword
• Smallsword
• Quarterstaff
• Rapier & Cloak

Alternatively, explore our range of specialist workshops and combat-adjacent activities, including firearms, wirework, stunts, burns, and more.

Come back often, try new themes, revisit old skills, and keep your craft sharp.