Stage Managers Face High Stress and Burnout, Report Finds

A recent study conducted by the Actors’ Trust, a charity in the UK that aids theatre professionals, indicates that 34% of stage managers face significant anxiety, while only 23% of the adult population in the UK report similar feelings. Furthermore, 74% of stage managers have encountered mental health issues over the last three years, compared to 20% of the general populace. Loneliness was felt by 85% of stage managers in the past year, in contrast to 25% of the wider community. A 2024 study in the US found that 93.6% of stage managers had likely experienced burnout, with 41.2% showing high levels of exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of inadequacy. These challenges are exacerbated by stricter budgets and time limitations. Stage managers oversee all activities in rehearsal rooms and on stage, managing technical elements like lighting and sound, while ensuring safety. They lead teams of assistant and deputy stage managers. Despite the pressures, many find their roles fulfilling. Noteworthy figures in stage management include the late Sue Nattrass AO, who has an award named in her honor at the Helpmann Awards, and Ruth Mitchell, one of Broadway's pioneering female stage managers, known for her work on productions like West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera. This article, authored by Catherine Campbell of Adelaide University and initially published in The Conversation, advocates for increased acknowledgment of these essential backstage contributors.