Anthony Coombes, Teacher of Drama and History, Youth Theatre Practitioner, Actor, Director and Stunt Fight Performer - Founder of RoundHouseYouthTheatre
Ba Hons Drama 1st Class Degree - Kingston University,
PGCE - Post compulsory - University College London: Institute Of Education - Outstanding
Rapier and Dagger and Unarmed Combat -British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC)
Unarmed Combat, Quarter Staff, Sword and Shield, Broad Sword - British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat (BASSC)
Level 3 Diploma in Fitness and PT instruction - New Skills Academy
Level 3 Diploma in Nutrition and Hydration - New Skills Academy
Why I started Roundhouse?
In my youth, I was always interested in martial arts and through my love for theatre I discovered the world of Stage and Screen Combat.
Developing my practice as an actor, I sought professional training with the BADC and BASSC institutes to become an independent Stunt Fight Performer. Through these workshops, I discovered that I had found an art form that could inspire more young people to be engaged in theatre.
How does my training influence my teaching practice?
Being a Drama Teacher I am able to offer a unique skill set, which provokes students to approach the work with a heightened sense of emotional and physical intent; I quickly realised, that my students found the work as fun and invigorating as I did when I was their age.
Feedback from these lessons led me to start an after-school club, which was very popular and the students were requesting more training, and so…Roundhouse Youth Theatre was born.
Emily Scott, Student of Italia Conti Drama School Enrolled on The Cert/HE Musical Theatre Performance Programme - Assistant Director
Freelance Teacher - Singing, Dance and Acting for Boundless Arts
Turing House School Extra-Curricular Dance Teacher
Trained with Jeans Inwards school of Dance Since 2009 - Jazz, Ballet, Ponite, Tap, Acrobatics and Modern
A-level Drama Turing House School - Specialising in Devising and Physical Theatre and Contemporary Texts
Why stage combat?
Stage combat gives me so much confidence and is an essential part of any young actor’s repertoire. My background in dance meant I could easily pick up stage combat choreography. I found both to be surprisingly similar, pulling techniques from them in performing as they both create art through intense physicality. My love for dance meant that I quickly found a passion for stage combat that gives me a wider skill set as an actor. From film and tv so many fantastic lead female roles in action movies inspired me to prove to myself that this wasn’t something just for the boys.
