John Stead has also worked extensively in the theatre as a fight director. He is Head of Stage Combat for the Stratford Festival of Canada, a master instructor with the Academy of Dramatic Combat, Stage Combat Coordinator for The National Theatre School and a member of the Society of Canadian Fight Directors. He has over 600 professional theatre credits as a fight director, including 24 seasons as the fight director for the Stratford Festival and 18 seasons with the Shaw Festival. He has worked across Canada and the U.S. with numerous companies including Soulpepper Theatre, Canadian Stage Company, the National Ballet, Mirvish Productions, Ontario Opera Company, Factory Theatre, Crow's Theatre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, the National Arts Centre, Studio Arena Theatre, the Geva Theatre in Rochester, the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and the Lincoln Centre on Broadway. John has been the recipient of an Award of Excellence - Canadian International Film Festival, a Genre Award for Best Suspense - BNFF, the Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director's Award - Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Judge's Choice Award - 15 Minutes of Fame International Film Festival, a Tyrone Guthrie Award - Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Best Short 1st Runner-Up - Ticket to Hollywood International Film and Screenplay Festival and nominated for a Best Short Award - Directors Guild of Canada.