by Priscilla

Nov.08, 2009, under Producer's Blog

Question

How do they change costumes so quick. When Tick rings Bernadette he changes in secs. How do they do it even with Velcro?

Garry McQuinn

Theatre magic … I can’t let onto that without spoiling the illusion!

Wardrobes backstage

The costumes are very cleverly designed so that the cast can get into and out of them quickly.  Our genius designers and wardrobe staff spend a lot of time on the costume ‘mechanics’ when we know that the costume changes are fast .. .which is most of them!  And we spend a great deal of time during the technical period rehearsing with the dressers. 

For some of the more complicated changes there may be six crew members madly dressing the performer.  In fact the change you refer to is reasonably straightforward … the most challenging costume changes (certainly for the three leads) are probably the ones following ‘We Belong’ (top of Uluru), when they change into and out of the Opera House outfits.  I think the fastest chorus change is the one into ‘Colour My World’ - particularly for the Divas.