S A I N T S' Maisy Butchart gives a Stage Manager's perspective on cultivating space, recording clouds, and what happens at the supermarket once the show's over.
1. What’s your favourite way to work?
My values heavily lead every aspect of my life, including my professional practice. I put compassion, curiosity and communication at the forefront and find ways to support in each moment.
Regardless of the process, everything will eventually find its place, the product will always arrive, opening night will come. Assisting to cultivate a space where the getting there is filled with joy, care and community is the greatest privilege I have.
2. Who and/or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the things I see once an hour. I regularly, almost religiously, stop to collect leaves, trace graffiti, record the clouds, and stare at pigeons. A closer look at the mundane offerings brings me endless presence, appreciation and weird looks.
This inspiration doesn’t necessarily drive some epic artistic endeavor but it's ridiculously fun to be creatively fueled, even just for a moment, by the slime trail of a snail. I highly recommend it.
3. How do you know when something is “finished”?
There are some who will say that ‘finished’ doesn’t exist. For me, finished is measured in the domestic and uneventful.
I know a day is finished when it's far gone dark and the last creative has been reluctantly pushed from the room to find rest.
I know a rehearsal week is finished when my notes app is so full I must upgrade my iCloud storage.
I know a tech week is finished when I’ve started dreaming in cue numbers.
I know a season is finished when I’m reciting random dialogue to myself in a Woolworths Metro weeks later.
Maisy (she/her) is a Stage and Production Manager working across Naarm. She brings with her a values first approach and strong focus on cultivating supportive places for creativity to
thrive. Maisy works to center care and access within her practice and strives to empower the artists with whom she works with to feel heard and held. She has a particular interest in devised works, and art created for young audiences. Maisy is a regular Stage Manager for Polyglot Theatre and has been privileged to support the delivery of various touring repertoire works, as well as the development and premiere of new shows. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art in Production from the Victorian College of the Arts. Some of her recent credits include ‘The End Is Never The –‘ (VCA Theatre Graduate Cohort, 2025), ‘Whirlwind’ (dir. Cat Sewell), and ‘An Uncertain Time’ (dir. Dr Sarah Austin).
Images: Emily Tomlins
LA MAMA PRESENTS S A I N T S created by Elbow Room
6-27 February 2026
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S A I N T S is supported by City of Melbourne Arts Grants and was previously developed as part of La Mama Residencies 2025