ABSTRACT
In consent work within wellness and sex curricula, it is often said that ‘no’ is a complete sentence. However, for theatre artists whose work depends on collaboration and often physical contact, the term ‘no’ carries greater significance; it is perceived as blocking or stopping the creative process. In fact, many theatre artists are trained to respond via the improvisation adage ‘yes, and…’. Questions surrounding this willingness to sacrifice self for one’s artistic work have emerged in recent years, in part tied to the emerging role of the intimacy choreographer/director. Moreover, conversations surrounding equity and diversity in theatre as espoused by ‘We See You White American Theatre’ and the #MeToo movement propelled a greater awareness of and need to shift assumptions around what artists must do to create their work. This chapter explores the emergence of consent-based practices within the theatre industry and curricula and examines the overlap between consent-based practices and anti-racist work in theatre and performance. While many of these approaches rightfully focus on supporting actors’ agency and work in performance spaces, this chapter ultimately advocates for the inclusion of consent-based practices across curricula to create more inclusive, anti-racist, and brave creative environments.
