Theatrical Intimacy and Instructional Touch Policy

The Theatre Department at The University of Portland is dedicated to integrating consent-based practices into all classroom and production environments. All participants in classroom and production environments are expected to abide by the Theatrical Intimacy and Instructional Touch Best Practices. All participants are expected to communicate their boundaries, ask before they touch, and maintain a professional working environment.  

This policy statement should appear in all theatre department syllabi. 

All participants should use “Communication Best Practices” referenced at the beginning of this handbook if there is a concern regarding theatrical intimacy or instructional touch policy violations.   

https://www.theatricalintimacyed.com/blog 

Theatrical Intimacy is the simulation of intimate physical acts for theatrical purposes. Examples of Theatrical Intimacy include:  

• Kissing  

• Embraces  

• Sexual innuendo  

• Revealing Clothing  

• Nudity or partial nudity (including on-stage costume changes)  

• Simulated intercourse  

Theatrical Intimacy may also include heightened imaginative sexual or intimate circumstances for a character.  

Theatrical Intimacy Best Practices In addition to the Instructional Touch Best Practices, Theatrical Intimacy requires the following:  

Practice a consent-based process  

○ Use an Audition Disclosure form to allow actors to opt-in or out of theatrical intimacy.  

○ Use The Button.  

Establish Boundaries  

○ Use the Boundary Practice exercise.  

○ A third party such as Stage Management must always be present for the staging of intimacy.  

○ Productions with Intimacy should have a no-cell phone policy in rehearsal and backstage for all members of the production.  

○ Directors and choreographers should never step in to stage intimate moments or have any physical contact with the actors during the staging or rehearsal process of intimacy.  

Deload the Process  

○ Use non-sexual, deloaded language for staging intimacy or discussing it with the actors.  

○ If you need to talk about the character’s actions, use character names.  

○ Refrain from making sexual jokes, innuendo, or comments.  

○ Offer De-Role-ing (differentiating oneself from the character).  

Choreography  

○ All theatrical intimacy, regardless of how simple or straight-forward it might be, must be choreographed.  

○ Choreography must be notated by performers and stage management. Notation should be written but can also be in the form of an audio recording.  

○ Video recordings of intimacy should not be created to uphold actor privacy.  

○ Performers must not deviate from choreography.  

○ If a performer’s boundaries change that alters the choreography, they should notify the instructor and/or choreographer as soon as possible so modifications can be made.  

○ In Production, Directors must discuss any changes to choreography with the choreographer and may not make changes themselves.  

○ Placeholders should be used until choreography is set.  

○ Placeholders may be used anytime after choreography is set except during performances.  

Instructional Touch is any physical contact made between instructor and student. Instructional Touch is different from touch made in situations where the touch is made in an attempt to prevent or minimize injury in an emergency. In those situations, all participants should act immediately to reduce harm or risk in accordance with their safety training.  

 Examples of Instructional Touch include:  

• Adjusting alignment/positioning  

• Bringing awareness to physical use  

• Partnering for demonstrations  

• Correcting actor placement in space  

• Adjusting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  

• Costume Fittings  

 Instructional Touch Best Practices:  

• Ask before you touch  

• Be specific about the contact: Where?, For what purpose ? 

• Try Open Questions:  

  • “Does that work for you?”  

  • “How would you feel about _____?”  

  • “Would you be open to______?”  

• Be prepared for “no”  

• Offer alternatives : 

  • Visualization  

  • Demonstrating on yourself  

  • Using their own hands  

  • Using Props  

• Careful Observation and Note-taking   

• Establish Boundaries  

• Integrate “The Button “ 

  • In any exercise, a participant says “Button” if they need to briefly hold to clarify a boundary.  

  • When a participant calls “Button”, the participant offers a way to continue working that works for their boundaries. 

• Use Placeholders (such as palm-to-palm or high-five, etc.) when someone needs more time.  

Costume Shop Best Practices  

When an actor is cast in a department production, they should come to their scheduled measurement fitting prepared to participate in the fitting process.  

Measurements involve: The measuring process for costume fittings requires accuracy. This process involves physical contact with the measuring tape and minimal touch from the measurer. Students and Shop Personnel have the same tools available during measurements as above.  

Fittings involve:  

• Removal of street clothes down to undergarments (Actors are responsible for wearing opaque, neutral-tone, full-coverage undergarments to all fittings)  

• The fitting of garments close to the body  

• Physical touch to adjust fit of the garment  

• Interaction, including physical touch, by various personnel including the draper, designer, and assistant designer  

Students and Shop Personnel have the following tools in a fitting:  

• Saying “Button”  

• Request two-minute break  

• Request a reduction in the number of people in the room  

• Request that the door be open or closed  

• Request to be fitted in an open or closed area of the shop  

• Request help or additional privacy for dressing or undressing  

• Request that the appropriate faculty or staff member makes the adjustments, rather than a student designer or draper  

• Ask questions for clarification