How I became a fight director
This is one of the most asked questions when I introduce myself as a fight director. I know that when I first walk into a rehearsal room, everyone always looks a little surprised to see a 5'1 tall Japanese female fight director!
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The Comedy of Errors @ Mercury Theatre
by Pamela Raith
Rehearsal shot for the Woods @ Southwark Playhouse
by Pamela Raith
It all started with having stage combat lessons in the 1st year of drama school and from the get-go, I loved it! As a physical actor, I loved this form of story telling, the way we can create real tension and huge drama by a make-believe punch to the nose, stabbing in the eye or fatal strangling by simply applying a range of techniques was amazing to me!
Done well, stage fighting can generate huge reactions from the audience, while always keeping the actors safe.
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After graduating from drama school, I started my apprenticeship with British Academy of Dramatic Combat and successfully became a certified teacher and fight director in 2005.
Pink Sari Revolution @ Curve Theatre
The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson
@Park Theatre
Harajuku Girls @ Finborough Theatre
Since then, I have fight directed and taught stage combat in all around the U.K. and Europe at various theatres, drama schools and workshops, spreading the love and fun of this art form to actors of all ages and abilities.
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Read an interview about my journey in becoming a stage combat teacher HERE
recent credits
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Holland Park Opera | Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Martin Lewis-Evans
Holland Park Opera | Puccini's Edgar *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Ruth Knight
Buxton Opera House | Verdi's Ernani *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Jamie Manton
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre | The Taming of the Shrew *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Jude Christian
Chichester Festival Theatre | The House Party *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Holly Race Roughan
Sheffield Crucible | The Crucible *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Antony Lau
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National Theatre | Underdog: The Other other Bronte *also as the intimacy director | 2024 | Dir: Natalie Ibu
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New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich | Romeo & Juliet | 2024 | Dir: Douglas Rintoul
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ENO | La Traviata *also as the intimacy director | 2023 | Dir: Ruth Knight
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New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich | Red Lion | 2023 | Dir: Douglas Rintoul
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Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester | To Wong Foo the Musical *also as the intimacy director | 2023 |
Dir: Douglas Carter Beane
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Sheffield Crucible | Miss Saigon the Musical*also as the intimacy director | 2023 | Dir: Robert Hastie & Anthony Lau
Royal Exchange Manchester & Young Vic, London | untitled: f*ck m*ss s**gon play *also as the intimacy director | 2023 | Dir: Roy Alexander Weise
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