Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the safe spaces in the world/sector and how I can not only be a safe person but commit to maintaining safe spaces for myself and others. It’s one thing to ask for Access Riders and to have times to check in with how people are doing but what about everything in-between? How do we empower and equip people in our rehearsal rooms (and all rooms for that matter) with what they need to feel safe on a continuous basis? It’s also a lot to assume a person must know, and (be able to) articulate, every single thing that will be difficult/upsetting/overwhelming for them over the course of a rehearsal period.
The ‘Ouch & Oops’ tool was shared with me by an artist named Nadia Nadarajah.
‘Ouch’
In the space Nadia was working on a previous project they came up with a ‘Safe Word/Action’ for the space; ‘Ouch’ with a single hand shaking in front of the body. This word/action is used to indicate when something has become uncomfortable/upsetting/overwhelming – it gives people the word/action to express when they need something to end. So often when a person begins to feel uncomfortable/upset/overwhelmed they don’t know how to articulate why they feel this way so they don’t say anything and allow the experience to continue. This simple word/action allows a person to have the word to articulate this and enables the other people in the room to understand what this word is articulating.
‘Oops’
This word doesn’t stand alone; it is acknowledged with ‘Oops’ with an index finger pointing onto the chin. This word/action is an acknowledgement of a person’s feelings and then after this acknowledgement an action can take place. That person can remove themselves from the situation without need for further explanation, the room can end the conversation topic or task and discuss the experience, the person could be taken aside privately to discuss their experience; or a host of many other things to appropriately support that person. These can also be decided beforehand so that people can clearly, and simply, express what they feel would be best to happen next.
For me, and everyone I’ve shared this with after yesterday, this was an answer to how to not only create a safe space but to maintain a safe space.
So, if you’re working with me, I will use this ‘Ouch/Oops’ tool for as long as it supports me in maintaining a safe working environment.
