The Backstagers, written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Rian Sigh, is the story of a group of misfits who make up stage crew at all-boys school St. Genesius’s. While new kid Jory slowly learns the ins and outs of stage production from Hunter, Beckett, Aziz, Sasha, and stage managers Tim and Jamie, he quickly learns that being a backstager is more than creating sets and props. They are also the stewards of the real back stage, a realm of tunnels and rooms connecting all the back stages of the world to the source of the magic of the theater. While an incredible source of resources, the back stage is also where an entire stage crew went missing in the 80s…
What is the link between in-between spaces and queerness in storytelling?
Let’s start with the basics: what are in-between spaces? A rough definition would be that they are the transitional spaces that connect the defined ones. For example, the defined spaces in a house are the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom; the in-between spaces would be the hallways and staircases that connect them all. In general, they are spaces that link defined spaces, used to transition between them, and offer a sense of freedom from the restraints that govern defined spaces, but more on that later. There are other examples of in-between spaces such as fire escapes and, arguably, sidewalks, paths, and roads. When it comes to The Backstagers, the in-between space is right in the title. Theaters provide excellent examples of in-between spaces as there are entire unseen areas for the audience that allow the action to take place on the stage. As the newest backstager, Jory is still finding his way around as seen in the panels below. This is understandable as some in-between spaces are more secret than others.
Credit: James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh
A four-panel page.
First panel: A close-up of a poster for “Les Terriblés” by Hictor Vugo announcing shows Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:00.
Second panel: Jory is walking up a flight of stairs up to a dark room, with wires and cables strewn all over.
Jory: Huh… How the heck did I miss this place?
Third panel: Jory’s foot gets snagged on a large cable on the floor.
Jory: Oomph!
Fourth panel: A tool rat with a lightbulb on its head jumps off Jory, making him lose his balance
Beckett (off-panel): Who trespasses?!
Like in other aspects of society, in-between spaces are necessary “non-defined” spaces that allow “defined” spaces to function. They often provide the underground spaces for behaviors and conversations that must be kept out of the more public gaze that, in fact, help curate these established spaces. In the case of the theater, the curated actions happen on stage, but the the back stage is the lifeblood of the production itself. The systems of props, lighting, sound and directing are kept from the audience, and in the same way, the backstagers are meant to be just as invisible as to not disrupt the illusion. Being relegated to an unseen, secondary place is a reality that many queer people can identify with. Nonetheless, as the backstagers know well, unwanted and misunderstood spaces can also be places of respite for those relegated to them since they are unregulated spaces by the establishment. Behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that would be considered off-putting or frowned-upon in society make these in-between spaces their own.
Credit: James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh
A collage of various panels set on a blueprint of the theater.
First panel: Beckett working in the control booth.
Second panel: Bailey Brentwood performing on stage.
Third panel: Jim stage managing the back stage from a podium.
Fourth panel: Jamie pulling a rope.
Fifth panel: The door to the backstagers’ room barricaded by boxes and covered with several “no entry” signs.
Sixth panel: Hunter holding a pink dress in the wardrobe room.
Seventh panel: Aziz and Jory carrying sets and props back stage.
Eighth panel: A group of actors getting dressed.
The Backstagers also depicts an additional level to in-between spaces. Beyond the sanctity of their back stage room, where they are free to be themselves and safe from the tyranny of the McQueens: the mysterious world of the back stage is also an in-between space formed by many other in-between spaces. The constantly moving rooms of the back stage realm form a link between all the back stages of the world as well as leading into the arch-theater. It is a mysterious, incomprehensible, secret world that very few are privy to and understand its importance. Only those who embrace who they are and the title of backstager know the truth. In a similar vein, queerness is often said to provide greater insight into the world, as a questioning of gender and sexuality leads to a greater questioning of the status quo. In a way, queer stories might be argued to always take place in-between spaces because they are inherently queer spaces that queer people have recognized as their own.