Getty ImagesAn estimated 4.3 million people tuned in to watch Kylie Minogue’s AFL Grand Final show on Saturday. But how many gave a thought to the people working backstage to make sure everything went exactly to plan?During these grand spectacles, if you peek off to the side of the stage, or up to the small room overlooking the auditorium, you might spot the stage manager – the person driving the show. In theatre – and across dance, opera, musicals and concerts – the stage manager is like the air traffic controller of the production. Without them, chaos would ensue, yet they rarely get acknowledged.What do stage managers do?Stage managers have a daunting role: they are responsible for everything that happens on the stage during performances and in the rehearsal room. They make sure all the creative decisions are realised accurately and consistently. Stage managers also deal with any potential dangers and unforeseen developments that might arise – or anything else that could adversely affect a production.As South Australian theatre stage manager Bridget Samuel puts it:Those high pressure moments are often what make the job exciting. You have to be super flexible. You’re constantly working with teams of different people, and things are constantly changing and you need to be able to go with the flow and facilitate change(s) but also maintain a level of consistency […] you need to be the calm in the storm, the person that people can come to and feel safe.A stage manager will head a team of assistant stage managers, and sometimes deputy stage managers, depending on the size and nature of the production. During performances and stage rehearsals, they (or their deputy) will use headphones and mics to “call” the show to the technical theatre staff – usually from a desk with various screens showing the stage and other areas.They cue all the technical aspects of the show, from lighting, sound, projections, set moves, fly cues (backdrops flown in from above the stage) and pyrotechnics, to calls for a quick costume change. They start and end the show, and give pre-show time calls to the cast and crew. The stage manager and their team also have a huge range of duties in the rehearsal room. Among other things, they:mark out the rehearsal space to reflect the dimensions of the stage and the positions of set pieces for each actcoordinate and issue rehearsal schedulessupport the performers with learning their movements and cuesensure the rehearsal room is physically and mentally safeliaise with every creative and technical department.The stage manager spends more time in the theatre and rehearsal room than anyone else. The most important (and most stressful) jobA recent report by the Actors’ Trust, a UK charity that supports theatre professionals, found:34% of stage managers report high levels of anxiety, compared with 23% of the broader UK adult population74% experienced mental heath problems in the previous three years, compared with 20% of the broader population85% experienced loneliness in the previous 12 months, compared with 25% of the broader population.Burnout is another key challenge. In a 2024 research project in the United States, 93.6% of stage manager respondents said they had either “probably” or “definitely” experienced burnout at some point, with 41.2% reporting high scores across three key burnout criteria: exhaustion, cynicism and inadequacy.These stresses are only increasing each year, with more time constraints and alarmingly tighter budgets. So what keeps stage managers in this high-pressure work? Freelance theatre, orchestra and opera stage manager Jess Thomas says it’s about finding balance: You absolutely need to establish a good work-life balance, as hours are long and demanding mentally. At the same time, it is also so incredibly rewarding, especially the creative people you get to work with and the bonds you form with colleagues.Unsung heroesDespite the crucial nature of the work they do, stage managers are rarely famous outside circles of theatre aficionados. But there’s no shortage of titans in this space who dedicated their lives to making sure the show goes on. In Australia, the name that comes to mind is the late Sue Nattrass AO, who is honoured, under the umbrella of the Helpmann awards, with an award in her name. The Sue Nattrass award recognises outstanding service to the live performance industry in a field that may not enjoy a high public profile.Apart from her work in stage management, Nattrass held positions as general manager at the Victorian Arts Centre (now Arts Centre Melbourne), acting chief executive at Sydney Opera House, and artistic director at various arts festivals. In the US, the legendary Ruth Mitchell was one of the first female stage managers on Broadway. Mitchell produced and stage managed some of the 20th century’s most famous musicals, including West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof.At the end of a performance, the audience rarely sees the stage manager take a bow. Perhaps that tradition should change, and we should cheer on these backstage superhumans who work miracles in the dark so everyone else can shine their brightest.Catherine Campbell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.