What is the job of a Fight Choreographer?
First and foremost, safety. It is the fight choreographer’s primary concern to keep the actors safe while performing a fight. The choreographer works with the actors to assure their comfort with the moves of the choreography, and also addresses any safety concerns with props, sets, or costumes as they relate to the action. The fight choreographer can also help relieve some of the creative burden placed on the director. The creation of the moves, the instruction of the actors, the attention to safety and other details adds up to a lot of work, work which the fight choreographer is specifically suited to do. The fight choreographer assists the director by using his or her knowledge of stage combat to best serve the production, allowing for the fight itself to tell a story. The fight choreographer also assists with the staging of the action, addressing specific details such as sight-lines, size and type of theatre, and special effects.
