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The aim of this article is to explore the challenges raised by the study of the formation of work and professional identities in the case of artists and creatives in the performing arts who work both “on stage” (actors) and “backstage” (directors, set designers, and other creative contributors). In particular, criteria of professionalism as set and defined by the actors and creatives themselves are recorded and analyzed in light of the particularities of their work. Furthermore, it explores how the idiosyncrasies of their working conditions (a significant degree of self-employment, small-scale artistic entrepreneurship, etc.) affect the formation of work identities and the subsequent articulation of collective work interests and demands. The analysis is based on primary research material collected as part of the project “Labour Precarity and Social Cohesion: The Case of the Cultural & Creative Industries” which is carried out within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (Implementation Body: HFRI).