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Staging Sex: Best Practices, Tools, and Techniques for Theatrical Intimacy
Staging Sex lays out a comprehensive, practical solution for staging intimacy, nudity, and sexual violence.
This book takes theatre practitioners step-by-step through the best practices, tools, and techniques for crafting effective theatrical intimacy. After an overview of the challenges directors face when staging theatrical intimacy, Staging Sex offers practical solutions and exercises, provides a system for establishing and discussing boundaries, and suggests efficient and effective language for staging intimacy and sexual violence. It also addresses production and classroom specific concerns and provides guidance for creating a culture of consent in any company or department.
Written for directors, choreographers, movement coaches, stage managers, production managers, professional actors, and students of acting courses, Staging Sex is an essential tool for theatre practitioners who encounter theatrical intimacy or instructional touch, whether in rehearsal or in the classroom.
This book takes theatre practitioners step-by-step through the best practices, tools, and techniques for crafting effective theatrical intimacy. After an overview of the challenges directors face when staging theatrical intimacy, Staging Sex offers practical solutions and exercises, provides a system for establishing and discussing boundaries, and suggests efficient and effective language for staging intimacy and sexual violence. It also addresses production and classroom specific concerns and provides guidance for creating a culture of consent in any company or department.
Written for directors, choreographers, movement coaches, stage managers, production managers, professional actors, and students of acting courses, Staging Sex is an essential tool for theatre practitioners who encounter theatrical intimacy or instructional touch, whether in rehearsal or in the classroom.
- GenresNonfiction
152 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2019
20 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 19, 2023
inaugural sm book club entry
September 8, 2022
It took me a while to get through this. Which I suspect is because I’m reading for practical reasons- to enhance my creative practice- as opposed to for relaxation. But wow this book has been transformative for not only my facilitation and participation in creative spaces but also how I view any social dynamic.
This book is about choreographed intimacy but more importantly it has taught me about what a culture of consent is. It is a place that doesn’t just allow autonomy and the power of boundaries but champions them, going one further by stipulating that everyone has to make space for other people’s and equally their own boundaries. It is revolutionary.
I have used these exercises in practise as a deviser, as a director and as an actor. Anyone can use this practise no matter where on the proverbial rung you are, no matter what your “role” is. Pace says that the more educated people are on these inclusive theories and processes; the safer rooms will be. As there is not always space for a separate Intimacy Director, we have to equip ourselves and make space for it, bring it with us. (Paraphrasing)
To reiterate, I believe this process can be used in every room no matter what the project is about. I have used parts of this practise and the general ethos in every room I’m part of since reading. Not only when there is sexual content. The link between consent/boundaries and sex is important and implicit but these same practises can be applied to any rehearsal room, no matter how seemingly vanilla.
I have sent a copy of this book to so many artists I’ve lost count. If you are a creative read it, and then send it on. The insight I have on unspoken dynamics is so clarifying of my past training and professional experiences, we can all learn and grow towards a better way of doing things.
This book is about choreographed intimacy but more importantly it has taught me about what a culture of consent is. It is a place that doesn’t just allow autonomy and the power of boundaries but champions them, going one further by stipulating that everyone has to make space for other people’s and equally their own boundaries. It is revolutionary.
I have used these exercises in practise as a deviser, as a director and as an actor. Anyone can use this practise no matter where on the proverbial rung you are, no matter what your “role” is. Pace says that the more educated people are on these inclusive theories and processes; the safer rooms will be. As there is not always space for a separate Intimacy Director, we have to equip ourselves and make space for it, bring it with us. (Paraphrasing)
To reiterate, I believe this process can be used in every room no matter what the project is about. I have used parts of this practise and the general ethos in every room I’m part of since reading. Not only when there is sexual content. The link between consent/boundaries and sex is important and implicit but these same practises can be applied to any rehearsal room, no matter how seemingly vanilla.
I have sent a copy of this book to so many artists I’ve lost count. If you are a creative read it, and then send it on. The insight I have on unspoken dynamics is so clarifying of my past training and professional experiences, we can all learn and grow towards a better way of doing things.
January 19, 2022
I am definitely not going to ever be truly “done” with this book. As someone who is looking into becoming an intimacy director in the future, this book is full of incredible tools and information. Professor Pace has made a wonderful resource that I hope will be incorporated into theatrical education settings everywhere.
July 21, 2023
Any director working on any show that includes ANY on-stage intimacy (from kissing to graphic sexual content) — which is any director on the VAST majority of shows — should consider this required reading.
Like most actors, I can describe a laundry list of uncomfortable situations I was placed into by well-meaning directors while rehearsing intimacy. And like most directors, I wasn’t really sure how to avoid this in my own work and undoubtedly did the same. This book details a very practical and comprehensive approach to best practices that help stop this cycle of discomfort and potential harm.
Theatrical Intimacy Education (the organization the author is associated with) presents workshops that explain this material in some more depth, but this book is a fabulous reference whether you’ve already taken the workshops or haven’t. (And I HIGHLY recommend the workshops!)
Like most actors, I can describe a laundry list of uncomfortable situations I was placed into by well-meaning directors while rehearsing intimacy. And like most directors, I wasn’t really sure how to avoid this in my own work and undoubtedly did the same. This book details a very practical and comprehensive approach to best practices that help stop this cycle of discomfort and potential harm.
Theatrical Intimacy Education (the organization the author is associated with) presents workshops that explain this material in some more depth, but this book is a fabulous reference whether you’ve already taken the workshops or haven’t. (And I HIGHLY recommend the workshops!)
March 21, 2023
As a theatre artist, I found this book to be a must read for all directors and choreographers. I have previously worked with some of the concepts from this book, but now as I take on my first production after having read it for myself I find myself excited to teach more desexualized and consent based work. Creating safer theatre spaces is crucial to the continuation of the art form. Everyone should feel they are safe when taking on such vulnerable roles, and nothing is quite so vulnerable than having to show intimacy, violence, or nudity to a bunch of random theatre goers. Down with "showmances", directors asking for the actors to just be "easy to work with", and all forms of boundary crossing. Pick up a copy for your theatre group and get to reading!
April 8, 2023
There’s a lot more to it, but it really does provide a consent-based method for staging intimacy. Even for things as simple as kissing or holding hands, itcreates a framework to develop a scene is a way that everyone feels safe and respected (even if their character does not). It seems like a great methodology to desexualize the process and the ensure consent throughout.
It’s definitely a volume I want to revisit in the future. For future volumes or revisions, I’d love to see other voices included and more about the experiences using this method, particularly in contrast to how it’s done more haphazardly.
It’s definitely a volume I want to revisit in the future. For future volumes or revisions, I’d love to see other voices included and more about the experiences using this method, particularly in contrast to how it’s done more haphazardly.
October 25, 2022
A must-read for any director who wants to establish safe, consent-based spaces for their actors. This book gives an overview of the best practices for staging theatrical intimacy of all kinds. Highly recommend courses through Theatrical Intimacy Education as well for more specific topics under the theatrical intimacy umbrella.
July 8, 2025
I'll be Intimacy Directing for the second time this fall, and I highly recommend this book for all theatre makers. Pace does a great job of explaining theatre intimacy and safety (a truly fascinating subject for those interested), and I learned a great deal from her writing. So excited to see how this field continues to grow and evolve! 5 stars
March 9, 2021
If you are looking to understand the role of an intimacy coordinator more or to familiarise yourself with ways of developing safer working practises around intimate scenes this is an extremely useful book for you.
June 27, 2024
While this book is little, it is mighty. Very dense in terms of the information it carries—it is very thorough, very informative, and very very useful. Great book for starting off your Theatrical Intimacy journey!
April 15, 2020
It's beautiful to have a book out there this well-thought out and accessible for artists. Actors, directors, and educators alike can benefit from this work.
April 8, 2022
Amazing tools! So worth it.
October 22, 2023
the sections were so concise and understandable, the language perfectly conveyed every point the author made and it just helped so much as an actor and a director
April 25, 2024
Great theatre resource for directors.
June 25, 2024
It's great. Comprehensive, clear and well written, Pace's techniques are excellent. Her online IC courses are wonderful too! If you're interested in intimacy work, do pick this one up.
September 7, 2024
A fantastic tool for theatre artists!! A must-read.
April 16, 2024
I heard the author interviewed and was intrigued enough to get the book from the library. Not being an actor or a director, I’m definitely not the target audience for this book; I imagine it could be very helpful. The focus is on boundaries, consent, desexualizing the process, and choreography. The discussion of why the old strategies are not effective was enlightening.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews