Final-year students on East 15’s unique training course, BA Specialist Performance Skills (Stage Combat), invite industry guests and press to their first-ever showcase.

BA Specialist Performance Skills (Stage Combat) is the only full-time course of its type in Europe. The demanding scheme focuses on training actors through a variety of advanced physical skills: stage combat, gymnastics, Laban, horse-riding, martial arts, tumbling, animal and mask work, dance, fencing and more. It aims to create a performer who is emotionally connected, focused, disciplined and can use his/her voice and body as a tool of expression – and is also highly adept in a range of physical disciplines.

During their training the students have performed at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Blue Elephant Theatre, Covent Garden Market and Heaven nightclub. This one-off show case is a great chance to see them demonstrate a range of their skills in one location in short space of time.

Head of the course, Nick Hall, said: ‘After three years of training, one of the biggest challenges we have faced is to reflect the range of abilities our graduates have acquired in a showcase that is less than a lunch hour. ’

Dr Chris Main, Teaching Fellow and co-author of the course, added: ‘The nature of this event will echo the training, offered only at East 15, in a high-energy, fast-paced showcase, combining ensemble work and individual talent.’

This exciting showcase is taking place in Covent Garden, at the atmospheric St Paul’s Church (also known as The Actors’ Church), at 1pm on Friday 16 May.

Notes to editors