Stephanie Spear 
On the surface, stage combat looks dangerous: swords clash, bodies fall, fists fly. But beneath the illusion of violence lies an art form rooted in trust, precision, and storytelling. For more than three decades, Northern Virginia’s stage combat troupe The Noble Blades has been quietly ensuring that this magic happens safely and beautifully throughout the DC area on stages from high school productions all the way to professional productions at the Shakespeare Theater and Arena Stage. Read on for more about this incredible group of stage combat professionals and how even a beginner can try out the techniques.
Background
The story starts in late 1992 with a production of Macbeth by the Reston Community Players. The director wanted the fights to look authentic and compelling, so a certified teacher from the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) was brought in to lead a pre-audition workshop. One of his senior students stayed on to choreograph the show’s fights and provide stage-safe weapons. Adam Konowe, the founder and president of The Noble Blades, was the assistant director on that production. Along with four or five other cast and crew members, he became fascinated by what they were learning. “When the show closed, we thought, ‘We should really create a mechanism so we can continue to learn,’” Adam said.
That impulse became The Noble Blades. What started as a small group of theater artists eager to keep practicing stage combat soon evolved into something much larger. Members pursued formal training and skills proficiency through the SAFD, learning multiple weapon disciplines and honing the craft. For Adam, the draw was never about performing flashy fights onstage himself. Primarily a director, designer, and choreographer, he was captivated by the process. “Stage combat is another way to tell a story,” he explains. “Just like music and dance in a musical, combat is a way to express conflict, whether it’s dramatic or comedic.”
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That philosophy runs through everything that The Noble Blades do. Stage combat, at its core, is not about aggression. It’s about communication, illusion, and collaboration, making something look dangerous while keeping everyone involved completely safe.
The SAFD offers certifications in eight disciplines: Rapier and Dagger; Single Sword (sabre, single rapier, Hollywood swashbuckling); Broadsword; Broadsword and Shield; Smallsword; Knife; Quarterstaff; and Unarmed. Members of the Noble Blades are certified in many of these disciples, giving them a wealth of training and qualification to share with others. So the Blades are in the position of both offering the service of stage combat coordination to theaters and offering instruction in the different disciplines.
The Noble Blades in the Community
Over time, The Noble Blades has grown into a resource for the wider theater community. In a region rich with community theater but limited budgets, The Noble Blades occupy an important middle ground. While large professional theaters can hire top-tier fight directors, smaller companies and schools often lack access, or awareness, that qualified stage combat professionals even exist. The Noble Blades also have their own cache of ‘weapons’, which are specifically designed props for stage combat.
Without that expertise, productions sometimes rely on well-meaning substitutes: a former fencer, a martial artist, or “someone’s dad who teaches jujitsu.” While those skills are valuable, they are not stage combat. “A fencing foil and a Renaissance rapier may look similar, but they’re not,” Adam says. “Stage combat is its own discipline, adapted for performance and safety.” The goal isn’t just preventing accidents, though that’s crucial. It’s helping directors achieve their artistic vision without fear. Properly choreographed combat allows shows to take creative risks while protecting performers.
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At its heart, The Noble Blades focuses on three pillars: education, choreography, and demonstration.
Education ranges from low-barrier, one-day workshops to multi-week SAFD skills proficiency courses. These certifications, similar to CPR training, must be renewed every three years and cover eight different weapon disciplines, including unarmed combat, rapier, dagger, and knife. Choreography services support community theaters, schools, and other organizations. The Noble Blades work with directors as early as auditions, helping them understand how stage combat impacts casting, costumes, sets, and stage management. Their work spans everything from Romeo and Juliet to West Side Story.
Demonstration includes performances and showcases – something the group hopes to expand again, particularly by returning to Renaissance festivals where they once toured regularly.
They also bring stage combat directly into schools, offering workshops and professional development for educators across Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and even into Maryland. Recently, Konowe led multiple workshops for middle school students at a county-wide theater event.
Find the Blades
The Noble Blades company members perform in, train, and assist in theater productions throughout the DMV and nationwide. For example, Senior Troupe Member Bess Kaye is the Assistant Combat Instructor and Intimacy Director at the Shakespeare Theater Company’s Academy MFA program.
The Blades work frequently with school and community theater groups to lead stage combat training. The Blades are also the lead organizer of the Mid-Atlantic Melee, an immersive, weekend-long training program in a variety of combat disciplines.
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One of the most striking outcomes of stage combat training, especially with young performers, is the sense of community it creates. “Even when characters are in conflict, the actors have to take care of each other,” says Ian Claar, managing director and board member. “That kind of trust builds connection very quickly.”
Teachers often see skeptical students transform into tightly bonded ensembles. What starts as hesitation becomes respect—for the craft, for their partners, and for the artistry involved.
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The Blades host classes + workshops at their Herndon studio. “We offer a mix of one-off workshops on a variety of topics. These classes are open to everyone, from people with no experience at all to those who already have quite a bit,” Ian said. “For anyone new to stage combat, the workshops are a very low barrier to entry; they’re affordable, typically held over one morning on a Sunday, and cover a wide range of subjects. Many people, especially younger participants, first get involved with us through these workshops.”
To learn more about the Blades or to sign up for a class or workshop, visit the troupe’s website or social media.
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