Intermissions

Intermissions are planned breaks within a performance or screening, occurring between acts or halves to provide a pause for audience rest, refreshments, and stage resets. The term is commonly used in American English, while British usage often prefers interval, though both refer to the same concept.

The word derives from Latin intermissio, via Old French and English, meaning a stopping or pause between parts of a performance. Intermissions became established with longer theatrical works and elaborate productions that required time for scenery changes, costume adjustments, and lighting resets. In opera, intervals are a standard feature, supporting the length and structure of multi-act works. In many traditional theatres, intervals also serve as a social and commercial opportunity, with concessions and in-seat services.

Applications and typical duration vary by tradition. In English-speaking theatre, intervals commonly last about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the production and venue. In opera and musical theatre, intervals are similarly timed to balance pacing with the need for reset. In British and some European venues, the interval is explicitly structured, while in American practice the concept of intermission is sometimes less formal.

In cinema, formal intermissions were more common in early and mid-20th-century practice, especially for long epics, but they are rare in contemporary Western cinema. In some regions, particularly in India and certain older film houses, intermissions remain a customary part of screening longer movies.

Modern trends include shorter shows with no intermission, or multiple shorter intervals in long performances. Intermissions can influence pacing, audience comfort, and revenue from concessions, making them a practical, though sometimes controversial, element of live and screened performances.