Unless otherwise noted, all of our classes take place at the Rapier Wit Studio. Rapier Wit is one block south of King Street and just west of Bathurst Street. Wellington is a one-way street going west, and the Rapier Wit studio is the third unit in the second building on the south (left) side. We're easy to spot from the street, being the only people in the neighbourhood with a big ol' rapier painted on our garage door! We are accessible by Bathurst and King streetcars. Parking is available in front of the studio if you're early, or nearby on Wellington Street.
Local landmarks: The Wheat Sheaf pub, Waddington's Auction House, Factory Theatre.
Please note that our minimum age for class participation is 18; we will consider admitting younger students only on a case-by-case basis.
A note on our e-mail address: we have been having issues with spam (the evil variety, not the tasty canned meat variety). Our address has at times been used as a hop point for relay spam, causing it to be blocked by various ISPs. (We are not trying to sell you F4bul0us R3pl1ca W4tch3s, honest.) For this reason we would ask that you add us to your safe list, especially if you're currently in a class. We have also had to remove direct links to our e-mail from this site, so you'll see our e-mail now written as danielATrapierwitDOTcom, with the caps denoting the at and dot signs. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience related to this! |
Rapier Wit welcomes back SAFD/FDC Instructors
Ian Rose and Joe Travers
Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8, 2008
10 AM to 5 PM both days at the Rapier Wit Studio
We are incredibly lucky to have Ian and Joe joining us again at Rapier Wit! Those who had the good fortune of working with Joe and Ian during their last weekend workshop in Toronto were thrilled with their generous teaching styles and depth of knowledge. We don't know when they'll be able to come back next, so don't wait to sign up!
We will be covering:
Talhoffer Dagger
German long dagger fighting from the fifteenth century - techniques and choreography.
Poleaxe
Yes, poleaxe! Explorations of German and French poleaxe techniques.
Athletic Smallsword
Just like it sounds. Ian may say more.
Rapier and Cloak Redux
Investigating theatrical cloak technique and contrasting with historical usage.
Fees and notes:
- Times are subject to change but reasonable notice will be given to the fullest extent possible
- Full fee is $367.50 (includes GST)
- Fee with professional discount is $262.50 (includes GST), available to members of Rapier Wit, FDC, SAFD, IOSP, CAEA, AEA, ACTRA and SAG. To receive the professional discount fees must be paid in full by May 26, 2008.
- Space is extremely limited. A $100 non-refundable deposit is needed to hold a space in the workshop.
Ian Rose is a certified Fight Master with Fight Directors Canada and the certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. Fights choreographed by Ian have graced the London stage and Off-Broadway as well as Riverside Shakespeare and Interborough Repertory Theatre in New York, The Whole Theatre in New Jersey, MTM Studios in Rome, the Bridewell Theatre in London, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, the Philadelphia Theatre Company and Novel Stages in Philadelphia as well as the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. With over twenty years experience in the "fight trade," Ian has grappled with every type of venue in the art of stage or stunt combat. He has been staging fights in the New York and Philadelphia area for over twenty years. Ian teaches at State University of New York at Purchase and Arcadia University, where he created the Arcadia University Stage Combat Boot Camp.
Joe Travers has created fights, stunts and action sequences for stage and screen for nearly twenty years, working with performers such as Mia Farrow, Julia Stiles, Peter Strauss and John Cullum, and directors such as James Lapine and Michael Greif . Recent work includes the premier of Adam Rapp’s Essential Self – Defense at Playwrights Horizons, and the New England premier of Hunter Gatherers at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. His work has also been seen at Irish Repertory Theatre, Jean Cocteau Repertory, Modus Opera, American Globe Theatre, Seaside Music Theater, the New York Renaissance Festival and on tour with the National Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of the Performing Arts. In 2000, he helped create the critically acclaimed Duelists: The Forgotten Champions, an evening of original one - acts on the history of the duel of honor. Recent film work includes Lifted for Fox/Searchlight and A – Alike, winner of awards from the DGA and the National Board of Review. He serves on the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and a Certified Fight Director with Fight Directors, Canada. Since 1995 he has been the managing director of Swordplay, a NYC based company providing instruction in safe and effective stage combat techniques to professional actors.
Have questions? Want to register? Call Daniel Levinson at (416) 534-1947
or send an e-mail to danielATrapierwitDOTcom.
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Rapier Wit's
PAL/Stage and Screen Firearm Course
(PAL - Possession and Acquisition Firearm License)
May 31, June 1 and June 14, 2008
at the Rapier Wit Studio
Rapier Wit’s Possession and Acquisition License Course will give participants the opportunity to earn their firearm licenses while training in safe and effective performance techniques for stage and film. This unique course takes three days to complete with over twenty hours of training and testing in non-restricted, restricted firearms, and prohibited devices. This is a ‘must’ course for actors, directors, and stage managers. Its depth and focus on the entertainment industry make it the only one of its kind in Ontario. For liability and safety reasons, it is considered best practice for all theatre companies to have a licensed PAL holder on staff if firearms or replica firearms are being used in a production. Don't miss this chance to improve your understanding of this critical aspect of performance safety while earning your PAL!
The PAL portion (Days 1 and 2) is taught and examined by Canadian Firearms Safety Course Instructors Greg Jacobs and David Kwok. The Stage and Screen practical component is taught on the third day by FDC-certified Fight Director and Instructor Daniel Levinson.
Tuition covers:
- Non-restricted firearm textbook, training and testing
- Restricted firearm textbook, training and testing
- Stage and screen combat-specific topics: safety, aesthetics, choices in blank ammunition, experience firing various blank firearms both long arms as well as handguns, and instruction in stage and screen combat performance scenarios.
Class dates (course includes all 3 days):
Saturday May 31, 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday June 1, 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday June 14, 10 AM – 3 PM
Fees:
*Times, dates and instructors are subject to change where absolutely necessary, but every effort will be made to give reasonable notice.
Have questions? Want to register? Give Daniel a call at (416) 534-1947, or send an e-mail to daniel AT rapierwit DOT com.
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Spring is coming! Really! So get ready to join us at Rapier Wit for
The 2008 May Intensive Stage Combat Workshop
Once again, Canada's oldest stage combat school, Rapier Wit, is hosting a spring stage combat intensive workshop at our downtown Toronto studio. Choose one of our two sessions and join us for two fun, challenging weeks with some of Canada's best industry professionals as we take you through Basic training designed to help you grow as a physical performer. Our full-day classes will focus on acting fundamentals combined with techniques for successfully creating the illusion of violence. Participants will have the opportunity to test for certification with Fight Directors Canada, Canada's only nation-wide and internationally recognized stage combat association. The rigorously-developed FDC syllabus, known worldwide for its depth and quality, includes unarmed technique, single sword and quarterstaff. Space is limited to ten participants per level, so register early!
Basic Actor Combatant Workshop Session 1 - May 4 to 17, 2008
Fees and notes:
- Basic Workshop: $1260.00 CDN (inc. GST), or $945.00 CDN (inc. GST) for members of FDC, CAEA and ACTRA
- A $100 non-refundable deposit is needed in order to hold a place in the class.
- To receive member rates, fees must be paid in full by April 14, 2008.
- Not a member of FDC? You can join as an associate member for only $40! Go to www.fdc.ca.
- Classes will run at the Rapier Wit studio. Times, dates and instructors are subject to change, but reasonable notice is given whenever possible.
Have questions? Want to register? Call Daniel at 416-534-1947, or send an e-mail to daniel(at)rapierwit(dot)com.
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