These stage curtains can be used as mid-stage curtains, or they can be placed in the rear. They function much like legs in that they are utilised to mask parts of the stage or equipment that the audience does not need to see. The rear curtain stands just upstage from the cyclorama.
What is the purpose of the curtains on the stage?
The curtains provide an appealing look to the stage, have sound absorption qualities and can be used for special effects. The Valance and Front Curtain are in the front, called the Front Setting, and usually are a different color that the Rear Setting. They can represent the school’s colors, or compliment the color scheme of the auditorium.
What is a front curtain?
A front curtain is the stage curtain or curtains at the very front of a theatrical stage. Typically, this theatre drape opens at the beginning of a performance to reveal the stage. Eager to discover the many different styles of theatrical stage drape openings?
What are theatre drapes used for?
Manufactured as luxurious front curtains, borders, legs, valances and stage backdrops, they serve a decorative purpose on stage while improving lighting and sound conditions. What determines the price of your theatre drape?
What are theatre curtains made of?
The most famous and visible theatre curtain is, of course, the front-of-house or main curtain. Traditionally made from flame-retardant velvet, it is the visual barrier between the theatre stage and the audience before the show begins. Theatre terms visually explained: stage left/right, legs, curtains, flybars, ... and others
How long do stage curtains last?
35-40 yearsVelour stage curtains are designed to last 35-40 years when properly maintained, will your stage curtains last that long? Children touch the curtains then touch their face or mouth, wouldn't you feel safer with a non-toxic fire retardant used on your stage curtains?
Why are curtains red on stage?
Red does not absorb light as much as other colours, such as blue or green. This means that if the production team want to cast a spotlight onto the stage, having a red background will help to make it stand out. Red is also the first colour that we lose in low-light conditions.
What kind of fabric is used for stage curtains?
The most common theatre curtain fabrics: While there is a wide range of materials that can be used for the main curtain, the most common fabrics include cotton, polyester and mohair.
How do you close stage curtains?
1:002:07Opening and Closing Stage Curtains - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo when you're closing a curtain. You want to make it kind of look like a machine is closing it soMoreSo when you're closing a curtain. You want to make it kind of look like a machine is closing it so we just want to make sure it's real steady we don't want anything jerking motions like this.
What are three types of curtains used on the stage?
Although the possibilities for custom stage curtains are endless, there are three basic types of theatre curtains: proscenium curtains, masking curtains and backdrops.
What are stage curtains called?
A front curtain, also known as a (front-of-)house curtain, act curtain, grand drape, main curtain or drape, proscenium curtain, or main rag is the stage curtain or curtains at the very front of a theatrical stage, separating it from the house.
How much does a stage curtain weigh?
Stage Curtain & Rigging Options Varieties of fabric weights from 15 oz. to 26 oz.
How much does a stage backdrop cost?
Generally the cost of a custom backdrop depends on the size and degree of difficulty of the design. The costs can range from $1500 – $8000 and more.
Which machine is used to draw the curtains on or off the stage?
Theatre Curtains Here, the pulley is used for the purpose of reducing the efforts required to draw the curtains on or off the stage.
What is it called when the curtains close at a play?
"End of Act" or "The End." BTW, it's hard to find a modern theater anymore where there actually are curtains -- these points are usually marked by the lights going down now.
What is it called when the curtains open on a play?
Scrims. A scrim, sometimes gauze, is a curtain made of an open-weave fabric that appears opaque when lit from the front, but transparent when a person or object behind the curtain is lit. Scrims can be painted and used as both a backdrop and a scrim in some situations.
How do you fold Theatre curtains?
0:222:21How to Fold a Theatrical Backdrop - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you've created that accordion fan-fold effect starting from the side without ties and grommetsMoreOnce you've created that accordion fan-fold effect starting from the side without ties and grommets begin rolling up the backdrop.
What do red curtains mean?
The red theatre curtain is typically used because the colour red does not absorb light as much as other colours, meaning that red curtains are most suitable for shining spotlights on stage. Different coloured curtains - such as blue or green - would absorb the light, making it difficult for the speaker to be shown.
Why are cinemas red?
It's because red is the first colour that is lost to our sight in low-light conditions. Anything red virtually disappears to our eyes when the lights go down. But that's not all. Apparently red chairs are also used in tribute to the historic accuracy of the opera house.
Why do Theatres have curtains?
Theatre curtains for masking Stage masking draperies are used at the side limits of the performing space to conceal offstage areas and equipment from the audience's view.
What is the grand drape in theatre?
The front curtain – known also as the grand drape, act curtain or house curtain – hangs just upstage of the proscenium arch and is used to close the acting area from the audience's view when the acting area is not supposed to be seen.
What determines the price of your theatre drape?
There are many factors that determine the price of stage curtains and masking drapes, but the type of fabric and the amount of material are key.
What is the difference between velours and velvets?
The velours Helena CS, Garnier CS, Paris CS and the extra heavy-weight Zeus CS feature an upright pile and light satin sheen, while the cost-effective Velours Delta stage velvets are extra-wide and guarantee a more matte, deep black colour thanks to their short pile.
What are the most flame resistant curtains?
Cotton, polyester and mohair stage curtains are the most traditional flame-retardant theatre drapes on stage. Manufactured as luxurious front curtains, borders, legs, valances and stage backdrops, they serve a decorative purpose on stage while improving lighting and sound conditions.
What are the different types of pleats?
There are several different types of pleats possible, depending on the look and feel you desire: 1 Flat curtain 2 Full box pleat 3 Rippled pleat 4 Tied in fullnes 5 Pinch pleat 6 Butterfly pleat 7 Shirred pleat
What is a backdrop curtain?
Backdrops are theatre curtains that hang in the back of the stage and can be used for projection or lighting effects. Often, they are made from canvas and printed or painted with custom artwork to create theatrical scenery.
What are the legs of a theatre made of?
These so-called “borders” and “legs” of the theatre are made from light masking fabrics that partially or completely block atmospheric light in order to create a black box on stage. They also meet the most specific onstage demands for minimum light reflection.
What is the most famous curtain in the theatre?
Proscenium curtains. The most famous and visible theatre curtain is, of course, the front-of-house or main curtain. Traditionally made from flame-retardant velvet, it is the visual barrier between the theatre stage and the audience before the show begins. Theatre terms visually explained: stage left/right, legs, curtains, flybars, ... and others.
What is the rear curtain in a cyclorama?
The rear curtain stands just upstage from the cyclorama. These are simply stage curtains that can be closed over the cyclorama if needed, and there may or may not be a border upstage from them.
What is the main valance?
The main valance is the most visible part of your stage curtains and it is the valance that stands in front of all the curtain systems. The main valance is often small, but highly visible.
What is a cyclorama backdrop?
The cyclorama is another name for a backdrop. Lighting effects and projection techniques are often used to create a specific look with the cyclorama/backdrop. Several different material options can be used for these stage curtains, including leno, muslin and scrim. They can be painted or left unpainted, or can be seamed or unseamed, depending on what you are trying to achieve in terms of style and design.
What is the curtain behind the main valance?
Just behind the main valance hang the main or front-of-house curtains. These are also known as the “grand drapes” in some situations. This curtain is opened and closed between acts. These are usually “draw” or traveller curtains that can be opened or closed as needed. However, the main act curtain might also be a Venetian curtain or an Austrian curtain, depending on the needs of your production.
What is border in theater?
Borders are technically valences and stand upstage of other stage curtains. For instance, borders hang upstage of legs and of the rear curtains. Borders are used in conjunction with legs to help hide equipment and rigging from the audience. They’re an essential part of screening and creating a seamless atmosphere for audience immersion.
Where are traveller curtains used?
Traveller curtains are used in many different locations on the stage, not just as the main act curtain. These stage curtains can be used as mid-stage curtains , or they can be placed in the rear. They function much like legs in that they are utilised to mask parts of the stage or equipment that the audience does not need to see.
What are stage curtains?
Stage curtains are far from simple affairs – whether you have a school stage or a stage in a well-known theatre, there are quite a few different components that need to be in place to create the right look and atmosphere. You’ll find that knowing the key terms and concepts here can be of enormous value. What should you know about stage curtains?
What is tab drapery?
Tabs, also known as up-and-downers (UK) or Germans, are drapes hung perpendicular to the proscenium and at the sides, used to more completely mask the wings than legs. Unlike most stage drapery, these run up to downstage (hence "up-and-downer"). Note that the name tabs can be short for tableau curtains or even sometimes refer to the aforementioned legs.
What is a drape in a proscenium?
In proscenium theaters, drapes are typically suspended from battens and can be controlled by a fly system (i.e., They are "flown," in theater terminology). When a drape is flown, the task of adjusting its height for best masking effect is simplified and, in the case of a drape that must be moved during a performance, ...
What are the legs on a stage?
Legs are tall, narrow drapes hung parallel to the proscenium at the sides of the stage. They're used to frame the sides of the acting space as well as to mask the wings, where actors and set pieces may be preparing to enter the stage. Borders are short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width. They're used to mask equipment and hidden ...
Why are curtain pockets at the bottom of stage?
Theater curtains are often pocketed at the bottom to hold weighty chain or to accept pipes to remove their fullness and stretch them tight. Proscenium stages use a greater variety of drapes than arena or thrust stages.
What are drapes used for in theater?
Theater drapes and stage curtains are large pieces of cloth that are designed to mask backstage areas of a theater from spectators. They are designed for a variety of specific purposes, moving in different ways (if at all) and constructed from various fabrics. Many are made from black or other darkly colored, light-absorbing material (In North America, for example, heavyweight velour is the current industry standard ). Theater drapes represent a portion of any production's soft goods, a category comprising any non-wardrobe, cloth-based element of the stage or scenery. Theater curtains are often pocketed at the bottom to hold weighty chain or to accept pipes to remove their fullness and stretch them tight.
What is a cyclorama curtain?
A cyclorama, or cyc for short, is a large curtain, often concave, at the back of the stage that can be lit to represent the sky or other backgrounds. Traditionally white or natural colored cloth, cycloramas now come in various colors of white, grey, light blue and the green or blue curtains used in Chroma key (greenscreen) work may also be called cycloramas.
What is a border on a stage?
Borders are short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width. They're used to mask equipment and hidden scenery above. Borders hung close to lights are backed with heat and flame-resistant material. Legs and borders are typically made from a heavy, light-absorbing material similar to that of other stage drapes.
What are the curtains in the front of the auditorium called?
The curtains provide an appealing look to the stage, have sound absorption qualities and can be used for special effects. The Valance and Front Curtain are in the front, called the Front Setting, and usually are a different color that the Rear Setting. They can represent the school’s colors, or compliment the color scheme of the auditorium.
What is the front curtain called?
The Valance and Front Curtain are in the front, called the Front Setting, and usually are a different color that the Rear Setting. They can represent the school’s colors, or compliment the color scheme of the auditorium. Fringe can be added for additional flare, and the school’s letters added to the valance.
What can be added to the back of curtains for added protection?
The Borders, Legs, and Traveler curtains, comprises the Rear Setting, and are usually black in color. Lining can be added to the back of the curtains for added protection, and the fullness, or pleating, can be adjusted.
What can be added to a valance for extra flare?
Fringe can be added for additional flare, and the school’s letters added to the valance. The Borders, Legs, and Traveler curtains, comprises the Rear Setting, and are usually black in color. Lining can be added to the back of the curtains for added protection, and the fullness, or pleating, can be adjusted.
Do stage curtains have to be flame resistant?
All stage curtains must be flame resistant to meet building code. Scrim and Muslin drops are used for special effects, and can be a permanent curtain, or purchased for a particular show. Our fabrics meet NFPA 701 flame resistance requirements.
