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How to Run Quick Intermission Costume Repairs Backstage

A practical guide to building an intermission repair kit, running a quick-fix routine, and avoiding common wardrobe mistakes.

Know what usually goes wrong at intermission

Most intermission repairs are small and predictable. A hem lets go on a skirt, a strap slips off a shoulder, a hook pops open, a layer of tulle catches on a shoe, or a bow loses its knot. Before opening night, walk through the costume list and mark the pieces with the most movement or the tightest fit, since those tend to fail first.

Ask the costume lead for the running order and a list of quick changes. A simple chart showing who changes into what, and when, tells you where time is tight and which fixes can wait until after the final bow.

Build a compact intermission kit

Keep everything in one labelled case with a tray for each category. A tangled bag wastes minutes you do not have.

1. Hand-sewing needles in a few sizes, with thread in black, white and a neutral that matches the main costume colours.
2. Safety pins in assorted sizes, including small ones for straps and bodices.
3. Fusible hem tape and a pressing cloth. Test heat on a scrap of the costume fabric first, because some fabrics and finishes react badly to an iron.
4. Clear nail polish for stopping a run in tights, plus a spare pair in the right shade.
5. Small scissors, a seam ripper, a measuring tape and a card for logging fixes.
6. Labelled spare hooks, eyes and snaps for each costume, kept with its garment.

Run a quick-fix routine in the wings

Work from a priority rule: first fix anything that could trip a dancer, fall off or show from the stage; then fix anything that affects how the costume works; leave cosmetic issues for later.

Worked example: Act one ends at 8:20 and act two starts at 8:40, so you have about twenty minutes. A skirt hem on one dancer has dropped about two inches on the left side. You check the skirt with the dancer standing, and see that the stitches have pulled loose along one section. With twelve minutes left, you choose a temporary fix: safety pins placed from the inside, roughly an inch apart, with the points turned into the fabric. The dancer walks, sits and turns so you can check that the hem stays put and the pins stay hidden. On your card you write: skirt, left hem, pinned, needs permanent stitching after the show.

Make a fix hold until the final bow

A temporary fix is only a bridge. Once the show is over, replace it with proper stitching. A basting stitch is a good middle step when you need something firmer than pins but do not have time for a full repair.

1. Turn the hem up to the original length, measuring from the floor with the dancer in the correct shoes.
2. Pin the hem at the seams and every few inches between them.
3. Sew a long running stitch through the hem allowance and the garment, keeping the stitches small on the visible side.
4. Remove pins and test the movement: walk, sit, kneel and turn.
5. Once the costume is no longer needed for the run, replace the basting with a permanent hem.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most backstage problems come from rushing rather than from lack of skill. Watch for these habits:

1. Pinning through skin. Keep pin points turned inward and check that no point can reach the dancer when she moves.
2. Applying heat to an unknown fabric. Test first, and avoid direct heat on sequins, foil, or sheer panels unless you have checked them.
3. Using glue as a permanent fix on performance fabric. It can stiffen the fabric, stain it or fail under movement.
4. Skipping the movement test. A fix that looks neat while the dancer stands can still fail when she bends or turns.
5. Leaving no record. Without a card, the next volunteer may repeat the same fix or miss a repair that still needs doing.
6. Overpacking the kit. Carry what you actually use and check it after each show.

Keep the system going for the whole season

After each performance, restock the kit, check the card and mark which repairs are finished. Pass a short handover note to the next volunteer so they start with the same information you had.

Wash and store costumes according to their care labels, and keep a spare garment or a repair pack for the parts that fail most often. A little planning before the season begins makes intermission far calmer for everyone backstage.

Written with AI assistance.