“Intimacy coordinator” is a relatively new title for a job many actors, directors, stage managers, and choreographers have found themselves taking on for many years, in pursuit of solving a problem theatre folk have always faced: the potential discomfort involved in rehearsing and performing sexual content on stage.

Intimacy coordinators are becoming steadily more mainstream in the theatre and film industries, and in the performing arts at large. That said, many question the need for the profession– if actors have figured this stuff out since long before the advent of the first official intimacy coordinators in the early 2000s, why should a film production or theatre company pay someone to insert themselves into the process?

The answer is simple: it’s true that the art of acting has made do without intimacy coordinators for hundreds of years, and it’s also true that actors have often had adverse experiences with sexual harassment and abuse, as well as plain old discomfort and embarrassment, stemming from working on sexual content without adequate safeguards. Intimacy coordination provides actors, directors, and everyone else in the room with tools to help navigate potential pitfalls associated with working on sensitive material.

As the profession becomes more mainstream in professional theatre, community theatre artists may find themselves itching for the same assistance. This article explores when and where an intimacy coordinator may be helpful in community theatre settings, and will hopefully help directors and theatre managers navigate whether or not the investment is right for them.

Benefits of Intimacy Coordinators for Community Theatre

If you’re not familiar with what intimacy coordinators do, it might be helpful to start by exploring the benefits of intimacy coordinators and bringing in an intimacy professional.

Intimacy coordinators…

• Take pressure off of actors and staff alike by providing tools and advice for dealing with intimate material
• Provide working vocabulary and practical tips to minimize discomfort during the process, even when working on potentially awkward or uncomfortable scenes
• Serve as valuable sounding boards or consultants during rehearsal, or step in and play a more active role in choreographing moments of intimacy
• Are well-versed in trauma and mental health practices (but are not therapists), and can provide resources or guidance to assist artists struggling with challenging content
• Help tell the story on stage, while making sure those telling the story are also attended to
• In general, help protect everyone in the room, without being the “sex police,” by making sure everyone’s on the same page and that expectations are being clearly communicated and fulfilled

In short, intimacy professionals can make navigating theatrical intimacy safer and less uncomfortable for everyone involved. Whether a team has specific concerns, or actors are just a little nervous about getting sexy in front of their fellow cast members, intimacy coordinators can help ease the tension and steer the room towards happier and more productive conversations and practices.

Signs You May Want an Intimacy Coordinator for Your Production

Now that we’ve examined some of the benefits of intimacy coordination, let’s examine some signs that you may need an intimacy professional on your project:

The Show Contains Particularly Sexual, Sensitive, or “Heavy” Content

Some shows contain more mature content than others. Productions that deal with highly charged and potentially triggering material can often benefit from an intimacy coordinator. Not only can an intimacy professional provide tools for the actors to advocate for and safeguard themselves, they also provide tools and insight for the good of the theatre company as a whole. They should be able to advise on best practices regarding auditioning, casting, and creating content warnings in addition to assisting in the rehearsal process. This kind of input can head off potential issues before they arise, and keep the cast and crew safe and comfortable during the entire process.

The Production Team or Theatre Managers are Wary About Handling the Material Properly

Directors or choreographers may be uncomfortable attempting to block or choreograph moments of intimacy. Lighting designers may be uncertain of best practices for lighting scenes with nudity, and costume departments or backstage dressers may need help navigating these scenes as well. At any step of the process, there can be many points where a staff discovers they don’t feel adequately equipped to deal with intimate content, and having an intimacy professional on hand to guide them can be invaluable. Besides making the process easier and the learning curve smoother overall, it can also provide production teams and theatre administrators with useful tools they can keep in mind for future productions.

The Show Contains Sexual Content the Production Staff Lacks Knowledge Of

For example, if your show is about sex work, or perhaps contains depictions of BDSM culture, but the director and other leading creatives are not secure in their understandings of these communities, it may be beneficial to call in someone who is. You may research intimacy coordinators who specialize in niche subject areas, like kink, group dynamics, or scenes of non-consent. Even if you aren’t looking to hire a specialist outright, consulting on a production or providing resources for the team to do their own research is a common service many intimacy professionals offer.

You Have Actors (or Staff) Asking for One

If anyone working on the production is uncomfortable with the material, or is simply searching for more guidance as to how to explore sexual material in the least uncomfortable way possible, consider reaching out to an intimacy professional. This can help prevent further issues down the line and covers your bases just in case. If someone is asking about bringing in an intimacy professional, it’s probably a sign that having one will be helpful.

You may also consider checking out Evelyn Fogleman’s article, “Understanding Intimacy Coordinators: A Guide To Knowing When You Need One.”

How to Find and Hire an Intimacy Coordinator

If you feel like an intimacy professional would benefit your production, your next step is to look into hiring an intimacy coordinator.

Theatrical Intimacy Education offers a useful checklist for navigating who best fits your production’s needs.

Intimacy Directors and Coordinators International hosts a database of professionals certified through their training program. Note that certification is not necessary to work as a theatrical intimacy professional!

You should also explore the intimacy professionals working in your area: if funding is a concern as a community theatre operation, finding someone close to home is likely to be more cost effective. You can try Googling “intimacy coordinators in [city name],” but an easy approach is to find program information for regional theaters in your area and look for the names of the professionals they work with.

If hiring a professional is not right for you at this moment, you still have options: there are lots of ways to learn more!

Resources for Navigating Theatrical Intimacy

One of the great things about theatrical intimacy tools is that they can be used by more than just intimacy professionals. Actors, directors, choreographers, and everyone else “in the room” can benefit from learning more about theatrical intimacy best practices, so they can bring these useful tools into the rehearsal room, and even pass them on to others.

Even if you don’t need an intimacy coordinator for your next production, you may find the following resources helpful:

Book: Staging Sex by Chelsea Pace and Laura Rikard

Staging Sex is full of best practices and no-nonsense tips for handling stage intimacy. Written by the co-founders of Theatrical Intimacy Education, this book is an excellent starting point for learning about intimacy, or a solid refresher for those with some training.

Book: The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook edited by Brooke M. Haney

Brooke M. Haney gathers contributions from a variety of intimacy professionals in the field to create a diverse collection of viewpoints. The book explores various specialty considerations and best practices for intimacy coordinators, and makes a useful companion to Staging Sex by providing additional context and perspectives.

Live Workshops: via Theatrical Intimacy Education

Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) hosts workshops year-round via Zoom, with occasional in-person weekend intensives across the United States and internationally. Workshops cover a variety of topics and are designed for a variety of backgrounds and levels of understanding, so there are options for everyone, whether you’re just dipping your toes in or interested in more advanced training.

Live and Pre-Recorded Workshops: via Open Intimacy Creatives

Open Intimacy Creatives also offers workshops, however Open also provides the option to purchase pre-recorded workshops for on-demand viewing. If you have pressing questions or need training on your own time, consider browsing their library. If you are interested in more structured training, consider checking out their cohort programs.