The Irish Dramatic Combat Academy was formed in 2003. The IDCA was founded with the aim of improving the standards of safety, quality and training of performance combat and promoting a  code of practice for the training, teaching and assessing of the art in Ireland. 

It is important to Acknowledge,

That the Academy would not have been established but for the 

Inspiration and dedication of

SBFD Fight Director and Sword Master  Mark Shelley

who was gave so much to the Art in Ireland 

Master Teacher                                        

Richard Ryan

Mr Ryan has been IDCA's Technical Adviser and Examiner since its inception. He is an internationally acclaimed Fight Director, whose work has been seen worldwide. He is currently serving as Fight Coordinator on the new Guy Ritchie film SHERLOCK HOLMES.

Other film work includes Fight Coordinator on THE DARK KNIGHT and Swordmaster on SOLOMON KANE, THE GOLDEN COMPASS,  FAINTHEART, DRONA and THE LAST LEGION.

His best-known film work is TROY, for which his Achilles v Hector fight (Brad Pitt & Eric Bana) was nominated for Best Fight in both Taurus World Stunt Award & MTV Film Awards.

He has accumulated over 300 stage credits and has worked for many major companies such as The Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre of Ireland, Royal National Theatre, Cheek by Jowl, English National Opera, Royal Opera House, York Theatre Royal and the award winning Mercury Theatre, Colchester along with various West End shows and National Tours on projects encompassing a traditional diet of Shakespearean and Jacobean plays to new contemporary works to a live show in Thailand where he staged a battle with eighty actors and four Elephants.

Fight Examiner and Instructor                                        

Philip D'Orleans

A member of Equity’s Register of Fight Directors, some of his recent credits include productions for the Royal Opera House, Vienna’s English Theatre, The Tricyle Theatre, the National Theatre of Iceland, Salisbury Playhouse, the Hexagon Theatre, the Reduced Shakespeare Company, the Queen’s Theatre, Creation Theatre Company, the Mercury Theatre, Holland Park Opera and the Orange Tree. His TV work includes documentaries for both the BBC and Channel 4.

He currently teaches at Drama Studio London, Richmond University, the London College of Music, the Court Theatre Training Co. and the School of the Science of Acting. His international teaching takes him to Germany and Switzerland on a regular basis, and he has also taught in Spain, Jersey and the USA. Philip has been a member of BASSC since 1997.

Philip is also a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, the Arms & Armour Society and the International Hoplology Society. He has lectured at the Wallace Collection, the Tower of London, and at the Globe Exhibition Space.

President and Instructor                                       

Paul Burke

Paul is a founding member of the IDCA,
His work encompasses Fight/Stunt Coordinating, Stunt doubling, Choreography and Acting.

His Film and Television credits include CAMELOT, YOUR HIGHNESS, KING ARTHUR and THE TUDORS

His recent theatre credits include;

Romeo and Juliet (Abbey Theatre)

Sweeney Todd (Gate Theatre)
Macbeth (Siren Productions) Don Carlos (Rough Magic)
Playboy of The Western World (Druid)
Big Love (Peacock Theatre)
War of the Roses (Whiplash)

His work has been seen in Ireland,UK, Europe and Broadway.
In 2009 Paul was nominated for an Irish Theatre Award.

The mission of the IDCA includes:  

The IDCA currently teaches the Stage Combat element of the Gaiety School of Acting actors course granting successful participants the basic Actor/Combatant qualification which is valid for three years.