I heard yesterday that there are 'new' regulations concerning any use on stage of anything that has any kind of cutting edge.... this includes metal and even plastic swords. It seems that any use of them has to be overseen by a certified fight arranger.

Does anyone have some more specific information about this ? Thanks.

We were provided with information on this topic by the SCDA.

You can find it here.

Might be useful to say where you heard it! It maybe a local council regulation, which differ from town to town depending on what their local risk assessment says

You can get very realistic looking rubber swords but I dont know where from, although ebay may be a good place to start. Then all you need is a crew member with a good sense of timing & a good view of the stage to bang metal against metal off stage and it sounds great, particularly if you have some good backing "swordfight" music!!

It is still illegal to appear in a public place with a replica (read plastic or wood) sword. The defence in law that allows use of weapons on stage would apply equally as well to a blunt metal sword as it would to a plastic one.

Dave

Much obliged.



I just got it from a fellow drama society member who heard it from a member of another drama society.

I agree.

"It maybe a local council regulation, which differ from town to town depending on what their local risk assessment says" - Sadly, it isn't. It is the Criminal Justice Act, so is a police matter, not a "local council" issue.

ABTT - The Association of British Theatre Technicians states:

1. The CJA includes a section (Sec 139) covering any article with a blade or point or any article that may be classified as an offensive weapon.
2. It is an offence for any person to have in their possession any of the above articles.
3. It can be interpreted that knives, swords spears etc. all come under the act.
4. The only defence for carrying such weapons shall be that the person had it: a) FOR USE AT WORK; b For religious reasons; c) As part of a national costume
5. The Act states in sec. 7 that a 'public place' includes any place to which, at the material time, the public have, or are permitted, access, whether on payment or otherwise.
* Interpretation:- A theatre auditorium is by definition a public place, the stage is not.
Therefore rules for the carrying of these weapons should be established.
1. Any production likely to include such articles must be cleared with the local police.
2. It is important to define the boundary between the stage and the auditorium, to enable the auditorium to be classed as a 'public place' and the stage to be classed as a 'working area'.
3. It will now be obvious that for the cast to go through the auditorium brandishing swords directly contravenes the act. I would think that anyone hiring weapons from reputable companies would be able to get advice of this sort as a matter of course, or alternatively, as suggested above, contact your local friendly police.

"I would think that anyone hiring weapons from reputable companies .... " - I agree, For example Howorth Wrightson also have some info here

Andy

Depending on what production you are doing, deliberately fake swords can also work very well if the actors appear to take them totally seriously. That's what we did in Into the Woods - they were foam rubber ones I paid a couple of pounds each for.

On Andy Lee's point the link to Howarth Wrightson's site appears to be to an old entry as the sword regulations are now under the reduction of Crime Act and not S 139. surprising as HW's treatise on the current law is accepted as the Bible on this issue at present and may be their actual site needs updating.