Setting Boundaries for Safer Performances
Welcome back to Schreiber Scribes! If you missed last month’s blog about Scene Study, catch up here.
April is here, bringing with it lots of proverbial things: showers, fools, and the traditional celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday. And in the spirit of the bawdy Bard himself, this month, we’re talking all about staging intimacy and setting boundaries as an actor.
The History of Intimacy Coordination
Staged intimacy is more than just choreography, it’s about creating safe, collaborative spaces for storytelling. Intimacy coordinators seem to be ubiquitous in storytelling these days—from Hollywood to Broadway to acting classrooms and rehearsal spaces. And despite persistent myths about the role (they’re not just on set for female cast; they’re not there to protect from allegations of misconduct like the recent ones stemming from the set of It Ends With Us), intimacy work remains as necessary as ever.
While staging intimate scenes has a long tradition (around half of Shakepeare’s plays deal with sexuality in some capacity!), intimacy direction gained traction as a result of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. It ultimately cemented its place in the industry when HBO made history in 2018 by hiring its first coordinator on a major production. Since then, intimacy coordinators have made headlines by playing integral roles in a range of acclaimed shows with steamy scenes, including Bridgerton, The White Lotus, and Euphoria.
But intimacy direction isn’t limited to on-camera work. Not only do current theatrical productions like Romeo + Juliet, Othello, and John Proctor is the Villain have intimacy coordinators, but the practice also traces its historical roots back to the theatre. Standard in Broadway productions since the revival of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune in 2019, the concept of intimacy choreography actually emerged much earlier in the 2000s, pioneered by figures like Tonia Sina. This method provided a way to systematically stage intimate moments with actors’ consent and agency in mind.
Many companies now employ dedicated intimacy coordinators who work with actors and directors to bring intimate scenes to life while prioritizing clear communication, boundaries, and respect for all involved. With the role’s prominence in both theatre and film, it’s easy to assume that intimacy coordinators’ work ends with choreographing specific scenes. But this oversimplifies the value of intimacy work . . . as well as the actor’s role in making those scenes as vibrant and passionate as possible.
Why Staged Intimacy Matters
For actors, staged intimacy work can help deepen their skills while protecting their safety in vulnerable moments.
The magic of theatre—its power to move, transform, and uplift—depends in large part on an actor’s ability to fully embody a story. But the degree to which an actor is able to effectively embody those stories largely depends on how safe, ethical, and consent-based the environment is.
With boundaries, actors can go further in telling the story. They can take interesting risks, build robust characters, and bring fine shades of detail to each moment. Without boundaries, the storytelling can become tentative or hesitant, as actors second-guess what choices might be okay to make in a boundaryless environment.
As intimacy coordinator Nisha Ahuja put it to Backstage, “I find when people have a sense of what the boundaries are, they can go right up to them . . . to the edge of the boundary without it being a threat.”
And knowing and communicating your own boundaries as an actor will ultimately allow you to elevate your storytelling through genuine commitment to the moment.
Evolving Perspectives in Staged Intimacy
Creating a safe environment for actors performing intimate or sensitive moments is an ongoing effort in theatre and film. Knowing your own boundaries and communicating them is essential when staged intimacy is involved, and many stars have offered opinions on the matter. . . like this year’s Oscar winner Mikey Madison, who told Variety that she declined to have an intimacy coordinator on set for her Best Actress-winning performance in Anora.
But still others have declared their public support for the role. And with the advent and proliferation of organizations like Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE)—which works to empower everyone to build consent-based spaces—it’s safe to say that attention to ethical intimacy practices in the performing arts isn’t going anywhere.
Like TIE, we at T. Schreiber Studio work to establish an environment that respects boundaries in all areas and supports actors in ensuring ethical staging of sensitive moments.
The Actor’s Role
For actors, taking time to understand your own boundaries can go a long way toward making the space—be it on set or in rehearsal—more comfortable for everyone. Knowing your own boundaries and communicating them as needed is an essential part of the foundation for maintaining a safe, ethical, and consent-based environment . . . one where actors can push their performances to the next level.
Staged intimacy is an evolving art, one that ensures stories are told with authenticity, care, and respect.
Till Next Time,
The Schreiber Scribe