Choreographing Consent: Intimacy Direction in Theatre and Education

In the world of theatre, the new but crucial role of intimacy director has emerged, and both educational and professional productions have demonstrated a clear need for this burgeoning field. “Intimacy” is the term traditionally used to describe scenes of nudity and any form of sexualized physical contact in theatre and film.

The text of playwright Rachel Bonds' Jonah contains some profound and provocative moments written to include sexual exploration, self-harm, and other hyper-vulnerable instances in the characters’ lives. To bring these scenes to the stage, the creative team includes an Intimacy Director, Ann James, to orchestrate sensitive moments with care, consent, and professionalism. Intimacy directors weave a tapestry of trust, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for the actors while dynamically conveying the play's themes. This article will venture behind the curtain, offering insights directly from practitioners and educators in intimacy direction - those breathing life into the theatre's most intimate moments.

Advocates, Choreographers, and
Guardians of Respect

According to the team at Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC):

An intimacy professional is a choreographer, an advocate for actors, and a liaison between actors and production for scenes that involve nudity/hyper-exposed work, simulated sex acts, and intimate physical contact.

In theatre, the responsibility of an intimacy director is to ensure that all scenes involving intimacy are staged with utmost care and consideration, but this responsibility can go beyond orchestrating sexual content. As Theatrical Intimacy Education states:

[W]e have expanded the narrow definition of intimacy beyond sex to include leveraging an artist’s characteristics to stage heightened race, gender, pregnancy, disability, religion, national origin, or age-related content.

An intimacy director’s mission, as outlined by the IDC, is to "create a culture of consent in which intimate stories can be told with safety and artistry," ensuring that all involved feel comfortable and respected. An intimacy director may choreograph every turn of the head, every kiss, every hand movement... but they also direct a consent-based approach to intimacy that moves beyond the physical. The presence of an intimacy director is a testament to a commitment to both art and the well-being of performers, making this role an indispensable part of contemporary stagecraft.

From Shakespearean Passion to Broadway Stages

Intimate scenes in theatre have a long history, dating back to classic works like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing. These early portrayals of love and passion set the stage for the exploration of intimate content in the performing arts. While intense physical relationships have long been a part of theatre, the crafting of these moments with care was not officially the responsibility of any one artist. Intimacy Director Karim Muasher reflects on the early steps towards this burgeoning field:

This work was done unofficially for a long time before it was codified and exploded into the public consciousness, whether it was a stage manager checking in with an actor about a nudity request, a fight director staging a scene of sexual assault, or a designer making sure everyone in the acting company was okay with the fit and feel of their costumes.

While many of these best practices have long existed, without a formal position to oversee their execution, they often fell through the cracks. Many artists recognized the need for a dedicated practice committed to this work and blazed individual paths in pursuit of a common goal. Beginning in the early aughts, one can trace the field’s evolution.

2006

Tonia Sina coined the term "intimacy choreography" and created the "Intimacy for the Stage" method. Her motivation came from firsthand experiences as an actor when she found the lack of structure for staging intimate scenes led to traumatic situations. Her work focuses on providing a safe and structured way to approach intimate scenes, emphasizing the importance of consent and clear choreography.

2011

Teacher and director Adam Noble realized the need for a structured approach to address intimate scenes in acting after a serious misunderstanding between students during a scene study class. He developed the method "Extreme Stage Physicality" (ESP), which provided students with a framework for handling scenarios of intense physicality with comfort and confidence, significantly reducing reported incidents and problems in the process

2015

Tonia Sina, together with Alicia Rodis and Siobhan Richardson, established Intimacy Directors International to introduce clear guidelines and training for intimacy directors. As part of their work, they codified the central tenets of this work, “the Pillars,” which consist of Context, Communication, Consent, and Choreography. Recently, a fifth pillar, Closure, was added to assist actors in disengaging from their characters after a performance, emphasizing the importance of an actor’s well-being both during and after the show.

2017

Activist Tarana Burke’s hashtag “#MeToo” goes viral and instigates an increase in global awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual assault and misconduct, particularly in the entertainment industry. In light of this, many productions were eager to publicly demonstrate their commitment to safety by hiring an intimacy coordinator.

2019

The first intimacy director on Broadway - Claire Warden - was hired for the 2019 production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon. Warden went on to win a special Drama Desk Award for her pioneering work in this area and is the Director of Advanced Training at IDC.

An Evolving and Essential Field

Intimacy directors are a safeguard against inappropriate behavior, offering a clear and structured framework for intimate scenes. In doing so, they contribute to creating an environment where artists can express themselves without fear. Through their dedication and innovation, these pioneers of the field contributed to its growth and acceptance. The increased prevalence of productions with intimacy coordinators underscores the evolving standards of professionalism, respect, and inclusivity that the theatre world now strives to uphold.  

Beyond the vital issue of safety, intimacy directors also elevate the quality of performances. By honing the artistry of intimacy on stage, they enhance the authenticity and emotional depth of scenes, while also hitting all the plot points needed to tell the story. The result is a more engaging and impactful experience for both the actors and the audience. Intimacy directors are reshaping the way stories of intimacy, vulnerability, and connection are told on stage.

Teaching Consent-Based Intimacy in School

Journalist Ruthie Fierberg highlights that while physical and emotional intimacy, as well as violence, are regularly portrayed on stage, actors have often been left to navigate these complex and sensitive situations without proper guidance. "And if physical and emotional safety of your actors matters," she argues, "these professionals need to be part of your budget." This is even more essential when those actors are young people, particularly in educational settings.

Karim Muasher makes the argument for intimacy direction in educational spaces clear:

Actors often share with me their previous experiences working without an intimacy director - and the harm that was caused as a result. I work with a lot of college students, and it can be hard to hear about these negative experiences that happened so early in their careers - in high school.

Today more educators are waking up to the need for this work with young people. Dr. Kate Busselle, Assistant Professor of Movement, Intimacy, and Violence at the University of Oklahoma and founder of Heartland Intimacy Design & Training recalls a realization she had while rehearsing A Streetcar Named Desire:

I could tell the students who were cast as Stella, Stanley, Blanche, and Mitch were incredibly nervous. Even though this was a performing arts high school with actors who were experienced, it was clear to me that their lived experience did not reflect the level of physical intimacy that Streetcar asks for.

But it is not just the steamier plays that include intimate moments; in fact, there are scenes in countless plays and musicals popular amongst high schools that call for close physical contact. Lauren J. Lowell, Intimacy Choreographer in Baltimore, Maryland, says that she has "incorporated intimacy direction into the (high school) rehearsal process for Addams Family, Puffs, Shrek, Twelfth Night, and The Prom."

In educational theatre settings, the role of intimacy directors takes on a unique significance. Nancy Lynch, owner of Class Intimacy Acts, LLC, passionately believes in the importance of teaching safe and effective intimacy in schools as an integral step in a student's artistic journey. “Students will frame their idea of what creating in a space should resemble based off of their experience with the creative [team] which led them.” The guidance they receive in these formative years can have a lasting impact. These experiences can help them understand the importance of communication, consent, and choreography on stage and in their offstage lives. By nurturing this understanding, these programs contribute to the next generation being well-versed in consent-based intimacy.

Like many new advancements, introducing intimacy direction into a high school setting can be met with misconceptions and apprehension. Lynch addresses this concern:

The word “intimacy” is ambiguous, and subconsciously perceived to be heavily inundated with sexual influence, undertones, and nuances. So, when a director is informing parents and students that an intimacy director...will join the production team, thorough information is important in defining their role and validity, as it helps change the semantics around what we do.

Several high schools across the country have embraced the idea of Intimacy Directors as part of their theatre programs. And they need to, says Claire Warden:

If teachers...are choosing plays that have intimacy in it, then they need to be equipped or bring in consultants or intimacy directors to help them safely stage that. In the same ways, if you want to do a play that has rain in the second act, you're going to need to get specialists that know how to do that, and you're going to have to pay them what they're worth and make space in the tech and the rehearsal schedule to work.

There is inherent value in introducing intimacy directors to educational theatre settings, where the importance of fostering a culture of respect and safety is paramount. In the ongoing evolution of theatre education, teachers can now ensure that the next generation of performers enters the industry not only as talented artists but as advocates for professionalism, boundaries, and inclusivity.

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