intervals

You've really got two questions there: how long should intervals be, and how long should blackouts be? My rule of thumb for blackouts is about 10 seconds. Audiences get fidgety in blackouts and long ones tend to ruin pace (unless it's pacing done on purpose, which is more about playwrights'/directors intentions than about anything else), as well as confusing an audience to when the show has finished. Long blackouts also have the added effect of making the show seem drawn out and boring to the audience. I know from a technical point of view, if the actors are taking longer than 10 seconds I get antsy (as SM) and can often throw other timings off like lighting cues. If there are genuine issues with costume/set changes, then perhaps a rethink of who does what when is in order, along with a rethink of whether those costume/set changes are necessary. (This is especially true of touring shows) As for intervals, that's hard to judge. Recently at Ronnie Burkett's show, I was stunned to find out that he had no interval. His shows usually run for a good 2.5 hours or so, and usually have intervals - 15/20 minutes in the middle. The pace was good enough for the show that I'm not sure it mattered, but I do know that sitting still for so long tends to make your legs go a little numb. Normally I find his pacing so fast, you need a decent break in the middle just to catch up with it all. On the other hand, I've seen shows where we've come back from an interval only to be bored to death for three hours, and others where an interval ruined the pacing of a fairly short show. Obviously it depends on the length of the show, but let's go with an average of a couple of hours. A good 15-20 minute interval in the middle is fine. I think the old custom of having intervals between first and second, then second and third act, can also be disruptive to audiences these days - who have less fortitude and willingness to watch a show for so long through a whole evening. Mostly, intervals seem to be about going to the bathroom, getting a drink, stretching your legs, and buying merchandise. Ten minutes is too short, 30 minutes too long. Raising the lights should be left only to pre and post show cues I think, and unless they involve audience participation or actors in the audience seating, usually signal to the audience that it's time to leave. Music during blackouts is fine, but again, if you're needing to have blackouts for so long, then perhaps you need to rethink what you're doing. Of course, there's nothing wrong with turning the scene changes/long intervals into a part of the show itself - I've seen this done well using circus clowns (funnily enough, both human and marionette, but in different shows) and other 'extras'. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne