Stage Combat The Podcast

I came across this podcast because a friend of mine was in an episode about a horrible experience he had. It was such a great episode that I went back and listened to all the episodes. I’m a Union Stage Manager and was shocked to hear not only Sean’s story but others as well. It’s eye opening and very well produced. A definite listen for anyone who’s been involved in theater at any level.

A well done and insightful podcast! This stuff happens all the time and should talked more. This podcast helps people get their stories out there to show how toxic the industry can be. I would definitely recommend a listen!

If you care about theatre and mental health, then this is the podcast for you! I binged the entire first season over a few days while I was sick and it’s very engaging. The events described in season one and two are truly terrible, but Sean does a great job of bringing them to life and keeping listeners engaged with a film noirish tone. Future podcast seasons explore mental health in theatre more broadly, including topics like bullying, the concept of “family,” and mindfulness. The theatre industry is long overdue for a reckoning in terms of the mental toll it can exert on practitioners, so I’m glad that Sean is shining a light on this important issue.

STAGE COMBAT is a riveting, life-changing listen for anyone who’s ever been involved in theatre, and eye-opening for anyone curious about the lives of performers and the institutions they were for. The first season is compulsively listenable, as host Sean Hayden investigates the events that led to his mental health crisis at a major regional theatre. The community Stage Combat has crated by breaking the silence and shame surrounding mental health and institutional abuse in the theatre community will have an impact far beyond this well-produced, nuanced podcast.