Making the Invisible Visible: Caring Behind-The-Scenes
A festival-goer leaving their thoughts on a post-it note in the booth (Photo: Joseph Nair)
DATEJan 10, 2025
WRITTEN BYTeo Xiao Ting
Xiao Ting’s practice of tending to generous attention materialises as arts writing, facilitation, and one-to-one therapy sessions. She works in intimate and sometimes invisible spaces to co-create worlds that are more habitable and joyous. They were part of CITRUS fest: Who Cares? as the workshop designer and facilitator of the "Conflict & Communication 101" workshop.
DOCUMENTED BYLaura Jane Lee
Laura Jane is a Hong Kong-born poet, translator and voiceover artist, currently based between Singapore and Scotland. She serves as Marketing Editor on the poetry.sg team, and her most recent pamphlet "flinch & air" was published with Out-Spoken Press in 2021.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This article is published by CITRUS practices in collaboration with Ethos Books. All four articles and CITRUS fest: Who Cares? have been produced in partnership with the Arts Resource Hub and supported by the National Arts Council.Who might this be relevant to?
This resource is for those of us who are curious about the different ways care materialises in the arts, who have been on both giving and receiving ends of simple gestures behind-the-scenes, and who want to contribute to an environment of care but might not know how.
'Care' in the performing arts is sometimes invisible—it may manifest through unruly cables that are magically tidied up after a show; a pantry consistently stocked up with snacks and coffee; a soft blanket in an otherwise freezing theatre. It can also be something like clear deliverables encoded within a contract or closure in the form of a lovingly facilitated after-action review.
We often appreciate these gestures of care, though the ones who carry them out see them as no big deal or “not worth talking about”. But those of us on the receiving end know: they are not inconsequential. In fact, they can be critically nourishing on some days.
Expanding on how care materialises in ways such as support, communication, recognition and growth opportunities, this resource is distilled from “it’s not worth talking about?”, an interactive installation in CITRUS fest: Who Cares? created by The Backstage Affair (BA). The installation presented soundbites gathered from practitioners who are involved with work off-stage, such as Bobbie Ng, Carolene Ruth Liew, Edith Podesta, Lim Zhiying, M. Nurfadhli Jasni, and Shridar Mani, reflecting on ways they feel supported and valued. It was set up in the Black Box of 42 Waterloo Street as a microsite where visitors could listen in and engage in an open conversation with each other or leave their thoughts on post-it notes.
Snacks on the table next to a screen that shows the microsite BA created (Photo: Joseph Nair)
So… What might care look like?
On a basic sustenance level…
On professionalism and holding space…
On leadership and nurturing an environment of trust…
On clear communication…
1. On a basic sustenance level…
Being mindful of dietary requirements and preferences of everyone present, and making sure there is something nourishing for everyone to eat
Keeping an eye out for team members during busy periods, and making sure they have eaten so that their energy are replenished
Scheduling in ample rest times for team members to recharge, and taking that into account when planning for workflows
What does this mean concretely, through people’s experiences?
From a Director, working as an actor for a company…
“There were always ample breaks, and they made sure everyone could rest and recharge. Food was provided and the pantry was always stocked with our favourite snacks and drinks. The care and attention to detail from the company [made me feel] supported and valued.”
From a Young Backstage Practitioner…
“On a show I worked on, the production team provided lots of cakes and treats that were very considerate of dietary requirements [including the crew]. I myself don’t take dairy, and another member requires gluten-free foods. [They] managed to find cakes and brownies that were both gluten-free and vegan so we could all have it. It was very nice to be working hard, and then be welcomed by a bunch of brownies.”
From a Director and Lightning Designer…
“[One of the cast members] had injured her leg just before rehearsals began, and she was also looking after her really young daughter… I requested extra time during the technical rehearsals, and the producer was incredibly supportive in giving us ample time to juggle our roles effectively. They also ensured that [the actor] could take necessary breaks without compromising the quality of the production…This experience really highlighted how our wellbeing is valued.”
2. On professionalism and holding space…
Respecting the time and work of everyone on the team, and keeping to the schedule, communicating in advance if there are any changes
Taking the initiative to make and hold space for everyone’s voices to be expressed, heard, and considered
What does this mean concretely, through people’s experiences?
From a Music Director…
“...in an orchestra context, the music is given ahead of rehearsal so everyone can come prepared. A conscientious stage manager will signal to the conductor to give breaks, and musicians cannot be late even by a minute—they will pay hefty penalties. Equally, the conductor cannot extend rehearsal by even a minute.”
From an Independent Producer…
“Producers have to hold a lot of emotional and physical space for the teams that they work with. As the central person managing the entire production, they have to manage the people working on the project, making sure that they’re happy and well taken care of, such that they will be able to do the work that they do in the best possible way. This means, however, that there is no one above them who is able to hold this emotional space for them, especially for independent producers like myself. I wish for better support structures and systems—even in a freelance economy—that there will be people and communities who will be able to hold better emotional space for independent producers.”
3. On leadership and nurturing an environment of trust…
Leading with humility and an openness to listen to alternative ways of doing things
Empowering the team to make decisions collectively through simple gestures of appreciation, encouraging team members through validating good work
Co-creating working environments that are both emotionally and physically safe
What does this mean concretely, through people’s experiences?
From a Young Backstage Practitioner…
“On the first show I worked on, the production crew was having difficulty with one of the transitions, and the Director was frustrated. I had the idea of moving one of the panels, which saved time on traffic. This was just a simple solution that finally occurred to me, but the Director’s appreciation made me feel validated and encouraged, even though it was just a simple gesture.”
From a Theatre Artist and Arts Administrator…
“I enjoy working with my manager as she provides flexibility and trusts me to complete the work that I have to do. Even though she is a detail-oriented and meticulous person, she does not micromanage, and only checks in when the task is taking a while to complete.”
From a Former Production Manager…
“When on tour, tensions can run high between the creative and artistic departments. As a production manager, I try to bridge the gap and facilitate harmonious collaboration. This did not go unnoticed, and the Artistic Director expressed their gratitude for my dedication and problem-solving skills, acknowledging the impact it had on team morale and performance. The genuine appreciation made me feel genuinely valued and cared for, as my hard work is recognised and appreciated by the people I strive to support. This moment of validation fuelled my passion and commitment.”
4. On clear communication…
Fostering approachability—maintaining clear, open, and respectful communication channels
Creating a safe working environment in which team members can communicate openly without fear or shame
What does this mean concretely, through people’s experiences?
From a Cross-disciplinary Practitioner…
“...my first lady boss told me to tell her to f*** off (her exact words) if I didn’t agree with her way of working. I had no idea why she said that as I was learning a lot from her. She gave me the freedom to devise my own ways of working as everything was new to me, as long as the final goals were achieved. I really treasured her transparency. It’s something that is quite hard to find nowadays.”
From an Industry Practitioner…
“Coming together in monthly meetings, communicating and making a point to communicate and seek each other out makes me feel very supported and cared for. I also learnt from my boss how to be approachable—I felt like I could always approach him, and he would have a kind word for me—this is something I really appreciate.”
Post-it notes left by visitors sharing their thoughts on the topic (Photo: Joseph Nair)
So where do we go from here?
These are some examples of how people express and receive care, of what we might need to consider when it comes to ‘caring’. But these are not meant to be cookie-cutter formulas—these things are possible because everyone involved took the time to listen and to understand one another’s needs. And for these needs to be understood and met, there needs to be a level of communication and conversation about these things.
Reflecting on the soundbites and my experience in the arts, it’s often easier to tune into the needs of others than our own. So the important point here as we build towards a more robustly caring ecosystem is to make sure that those who are consistently showing care are not neglecting themselves.
Visitors browsing the microsite (Photo: Joseph Nair)
The Little Things Do Count
The little things add up, and in fact, are worth talking about. Small gestures of kindness and appreciation go a long way in making a workplace environment feel healthy, comfortable and secure.
…Take Care of Yourself Too!
No matter the gruelling past work experiences we have endured, we need not bring them into the present, just because of a general sense that it has always been done this way. When demands made are unsustainable and misaligned with you, we can say “No!” and advocate for ourselves by speaking up or walking away. Which brings us to…
Building a Community of Care
We cannot do this alone. Just as how these practitioners uplift and nourish each other, creating an ecosystem of care backstage, onstage, and off-stage is something that requires all hands on deck.
Prioritising care isn't a solo endeavour; we need everyone in the ecosystem working together interdependently, in small and big ways, to foster a sustainable and thriving industry where we all feel valued and supported. This takes time to nurture; it is not a one-time fix.
