Minotaur Column: Stage Management

Don’t know what a stage manager is? Kate Marks tells you the ins and outs of the job.

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‘I’ve always wanted to be a stage manager; my Grandparents have me on video as a little girl making sure all of my friends got to my birthday parties bang on time, writing endless lists and mending broken costumes and props into the wee hours.’

Said no-one, ever.

I certainly wasn’t a member of the ‘I wanna be a stage manager when I grow up’ club. Before university I didn’t have a clue what a stage manager did – or didn’t do.
I got introduced to stage management in first year, through a class that my degree provided. I failed it royally. In a full scale panic as I didn’t know what else I needed to do, I spent the first 5 minutes of the exam rolling FX tape down the centre of the stage in an attempt to ‘block the stage in two’.

So here’s your first clue on the road to decoding what a stage manager does – don’t panic, always know what to do. If you don’t know, ask, or communicate rather than make autonomous decisions that can cost you a lot more than just wasted FX tape.

But really, what does a Stage Manager do? The answer changes from production to production, depending on who is in your crew. It’s your job to get to grips with the script pretty quickly to gain an understanding of any props, set design, costume or special effects that might be needed. It could be your job to source these people, so you have to know what you’re going to be asking of them. It’s crucial to know what the director is trying to achieve, and work with the rest of the cast and crew to get it done. If it’s not a scripted piece you need to be in all of the rehearsals throughout the devising process to stay on top of the changes, and be as clear as possible with what has been decided from the earliest stages.


I’ve worked with really incredible directors and casts, and some really difficult characters, but they have each provided an invaluable learning experiences. I’ve made prosthetic noses, sourced sugar glass whiskey bottles, helped make a puppet monster out of ripped up books, painted endless bookcases, and mulched together bits of food-processed stewed cardboard into a tree. I’ve also been asked to book hair appointments by directors, check if they have bogies on their faces, and be there for many cast and crew going through personal difficulties. Those weeks you spend in close proximity with each other in the lead up to the show bond you together pretty strongly. Unfortunately though, you are also generally the muggins who is badgering everyone to get there on time, make sure you don’t run over, and keep the rehearsal room tidy and clean.

No, its not the most glamorous job in the world, but if you’re interested in theatre in any way, I would encourage you to try stage management at least once. It’s a great way to meet people, learn new skills that are really transferable in the employment world, and the satisfaction when its all pulled off is pretty ace. Plus, if you have a genuine love for theatre it’s a really interesting way to be part of a project. You’ll be able to apply the knowledge you learnt from the job to whatever aspect of theatre you normally work in – be it writing, directing or acting.

And hey, maybe your grandparents didn’t make a video of you prancing round desperate to be a stage manager. But behind every great stage princess, there’s a great stage manager – bag full tissues, cough sweets, spare wands and all.