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Hi theatre educators, 

Is it becoming more common for teachers to do any sort of intimacy training? How do you approach scenes containing intimacy in your shows?

I work with college student stage managers and am seeing that understanding of good practices is all over the map, which can be especially tricky in student directed shows. 

You all are my heroes!

Cheers, 

Linda Apperson 

I don't teach it as a separate course, but weave those good practices into the other things I do teach. So when teaching folks to direct or manage a program, we talk about when to hire one.

When teaching stage management, we talk about how to schedule and help your director work with an intimacy director. When things need to be part of the pre-show "fight call" time, even if it's not a fight. 

When I'm teaching audio skills, I talk about consent and proper practices for micing a performer.

When teaching wardrobe, hair, and makeup, we talk about respectful behaviors including body shape/size terminology, where to look if the person you're working with needs to disrobe, how to take measurements properly, how to coach a performer to sit/stand/dress, suitable underdressing (boxer briefs are a win for all in HS!), skin tone color terminology, and how to help a performer who is not comfortable with the situation either advicate for themselves or at least ask one of the crew to do so on their behalf. 

In the professional world, the a performer will ask their dresser to take care of things and we do.

I'll quickly add - the consent conversations we have as part of intimacy direction are good for our students to know as part of their own lives, too.   Shortly after I started incorporating the "consent before any touch" process, I had a female student tell me that she was on a date and felt more able to say "no" when he attempted to do something she wasn't comfortable with. 

Hi theatre educators, 

Is it becoming more common for teachers to do any sort of intimacy training? How do you approach scenes containing intimacy in your shows?

I work with college student stage managers and am seeing that understanding of good practices is all over the map, which can be especially tricky in student directed shows. 

You all are my heroes!

Cheers, 

Linda Apperson 

Hi theatre educators, 

Is it becoming more common for teachers to do any sort of intimacy training? How do you approach scenes containing intimacy in your shows?

I work with college student stage managers and am seeing that understanding of good practices is all over the map, which can be especially tricky in student directed shows. 

You all are my heroes!

Cheers, 

Linda Apperson 

Hi theatre educators, 

Is it becoming more common for teachers to do any sort of intimacy training? How do you approach scenes containing intimacy in your shows?

I work with college student stage managers and am seeing that understanding of good practices is all over the map, which can be especially tricky in student directed shows. 

You all are my heroes!

Cheers, 

Linda Apperson 

Hi theatre educators, 

Is it becoming more common for teachers to do any sort of intimacy training? How do you approach scenes containing intimacy in your shows?

I work with college student stage managers and am seeing that understanding of good practices is all over the map, which can be especially tricky in student directed shows. 

You all are my heroes!

Cheers, 

Linda Apperson