Stage combat exists for several important reasons:

1. Storytelling: Stage combat serves as a powerful tool for storytelling. It allows the depiction of conflict, tension, and physical confrontations that are integral to many narratives. Whether it's a historical drama, a swashbuckling adventure, or a contemporary play, combat scenes can heighten the dramatic impact and engage the audience.
2. Visual Excitement: Stage combat adds an element of visual excitement to a performance. The dynamic movements, choreography, and physicality of combat sequences can captivate and entertain the audience. It offers a spectacle that can be thrilling to watch and enhances the overall theatrical experience.
3. Character Development: Combat scenes can reveal aspects of a character's personality, motivations, and relationships. How a character fights, their strategy, and their reactions during combat can provide insights into their nature. Stage combat becomes a means of character development and deepening the audience's understanding of the individuals involved.
4. Physical Expression: Stage combat allows performers to engage their bodies in a unique and physically demanding way. It requires coordination, athleticism, and control over movement. Performing combat scenes can be a rewarding challenge for actors, providing them with an opportunity to explore physical expression and expand their range of skills.
5. Collaboration and Trust: Staging combat requires close collaboration among performers, fight choreographers, directors, and technical teams. It fosters teamwork, communication, and trust among the individuals involved. The process of creating and executing combat sequences strengthens the bond and camaraderie within the production.
6. Audience Engagement: Stage combat can be highly engaging for audiences. It creates a sense of anticipation, tension, and suspense. Watching combat scenes can evoke emotional responses and immerse the audience in the world of the play. Well-executed stage combat can leave a lasting impression on spectators, enhancing their overall theater-going experience.
7. Historical and Cultural Context: Many plays and productions are set in historical or cultural contexts that involve combat. Staging combat scenes in these cases adds authenticity and helps recreate the time period or cultural milieu. It allows the audience to experience the physicality and challenges faced by characters in those specific contexts.
8. Training and Skill Development: Stage combat requires specialized training and skill development. Actors and performers who engage in combat scenes often undergo extensive training to master various combat techniques, including unarmed combat, swordplay, or other weapon-based combat styles. This training can contribute to their overall artistic growth and versatility as performers.

In summary, stage combat exists to serve the storytelling, visual excitement, character development, and audience engagement in theater and performance. It combines physicality, choreography, and acting skills to create compelling and memorable moments on stage.