UHT Workshop: Intimacy Coordination

Get an introduction to intimacy on stage with director and actor Margot Fenley.


This workshop provides foundational knowledge of intimacy in live performance, with a particular focus on student and independent theatre. You’ll be introduced to definitions of intimacy, power, and consent in performance and how intimacy directors help build stories of intimate relationships for the stage. 

You’ll learn when you should engage an intimacy professional, what to expect when working with one, and how to use some of the same concepts and practices an intimacy director employs to build consent, safety, and trust in any rehearsal processes. Time will be allocated at the end of the session for questions and answers. 

Content notice: this workshop will discuss definitions of consent and power, and concepts pertaining to staging simulated sex scenes and nudity, which may be activating for some people. Attendees will not be asked to discuss personal experiences of any of the concepts addressed by the workshop. All engagement in discussion or practices will be opt-in, and attendees will be free to leave the session at any time.   

About Margot Fenley

Margot Fenley is an actor, devisor, intimacy professional, director, and educator. She trained as an actor at the VCA University of Melbourne and attained her MFA (Theatre) there in 2021. As an actor, Margot has performed with Melbourne Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Arts Centre Melbourne, La Mama, Darlinghurst Theatre, Hothouse, and fortyfive downstairs, amongst others, and has appeared in guest roles on numerous Australian TV series throughout her 30-year career. She directed Shane Woon’s new play A Guide to Being Immortal for Melbourne Fringe, 2025 (winner: new writing), Willow Sizer and Rachel Lewindon’s acclaimed musical theatre adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando for Antipodes Theatre at fortyfive downstairs in October 2023, and Kikki Temple’s play Stuck for Midsumma 2024 at the Meat Market.