About Us
Argent Combat is a Philadelphia-based organization of students, performers, choreographers, and instructors of Theatrical Violence and Stage Combat. We are dedicated to promoting safety and fostering the excellence and proficiency of action-oriented entertainment.
Mission Statement
Our objectives are
1.) to uphold these values,
2.) to encourage safe techniques for performers and enthusiasts,
3.) to adapt styles of historical and modern forms of combat to dynamic theatrical performances,
4.) to provide artists with the tools they need to develop confidence in their autonomy,
and 5.) to expand Theatre’s influence by engendering new students and audiences who enjoy the expression of stories and emotions through theatrical violence.
In furtherance of these goals, Argent Combat routinely offers workshops and ongoing classes in a variety of disciplines all over Philadelphia, and members can be found attending Regional and National Workshops all over North America.
Inclusivity
Argent Combat is committed to the policy that all students shall have equal access to programs without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation, except in those cases where specific physical limitations prohibit participation in performing the required skills in a manner safe to themselves or to their participants.
Our official statement affirming our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement can be found here.
For additional information, please review our Decorum & Conduct Policies.
Brittany Holdahl Donahue, CEOLD
Executive Director | Co-Founder
[she/her and they/them : What's with the pronouns?]
Brittany has been an active member of the Philadelphia arts community since 2008, performing with companies like Irish Heritage Theatre, Hedgerow Theatre, and Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium. A former Society of American Fight Directors Actor Combatant, Brittany trained under Fight Master Ian Rose and advocates for accessible stage combat.
In addition to being Argent Combat's Executive Director, Brittany also leads Theatrical Thanatology classes and workshops and assists with death and morbidity guidance during theatrical violence courses. Certified as an End-of-Life Doula and Grief Coach with accolades from the International Practioners of Holistic Medicine, the Complementary Medical Association, and the International Association of Therapists, Brittany is also an aspiring Thanatologist and Drama for Well-Being Practitioner candidate.
If you would like to enroll for a class or workshop or are making a press inquiry please contact brittany@argentcombat.com
J. Oliver Donahue
Instructor | Co-Founder
[he/ him]
Oliver has been studying and performing theatrical violence for more than a decade. A Certified Instructor with both Fight Directors Canada and the Society of American Fight Directors, his work has been seen from one side of North America to the other. Recent credits include numerous productions as part of an ongoing partnership with Bristol Riverside Theatre, The Beauty Queen of Leenane with Irish Heritage Theatre, Les Liaisons Dangereuses at The Booth Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at Allens Lane Theatre, The Rover for Jackpine Productions, The Tale of the Phantom Ship for Temple Theatre’s Sidestage, Seventeen Missing Years, Ubu Roi, and After the End, all for GDP Productions. In addition to teaching privately, Oliver is also an instructor at Eastern University and frequently choreographs student productions at the University of Pennsylvania.
For any questions regarding course content and certification,
or if you'd like to consult Oliver for theatrical violence for your project, please email oliver@argentcombat.com
Steve Wei
Senior Demo Assistant
[he/him]
Steve is an Advanced Actor Combatant with Fight Directors Canada with equivalent experience in the Society of American Fight Directors, and commendations from both. His work in the performing arts in Philly spans nearly a decade at venues like the Walnut Street Theater, Opera Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre.
He is pursuing his teaching certifications from his parent societies, and is especially interested in developing stage combat as a cross-media story-telling art form.
Millie Omps
Senior Demo Assistant
[she/her]
Millie Omps is a proud Actor Combatant and Fight Choreographer from West Virginia. Since moving to the area she has become a frequent cast member at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, an actor combatant with Swords and Stories, and a member of the armoured combat team The Knights of Crossford.
Her choreography has been toured across West Virignia with the Shakespearean troupe The Rustic Mechanicals.
Melody Wong
Demo Assistant
[she/her]
Melody is a stage manager, a graduate of Temple University. She likes to fight people... safely! Growing up watching Hong Kong cinema, all of the action combat films excited her, and as an SM, learning and knowing the fight to be safe is of utmost importance to her. The stage combat community has been the most welcoming and fun community she has been a part of, and that means a lot to her. Having trained with Fight Instructors Ian Rose and Oliver Donahue, she has passed her certifications in Longsword, Quarterstaff, Single sword, Rapier and Dagger, and Smallsword.