Theater drapes and stage curtains

Theater drapes and stage curtains are large pieces of cloth that are designed to mask backstage areas from spectators. They come in various types, each designed for a different purpose, though most are made from black or other dark colored, light-absorbing material such as heavyweight velour.^[1]

Proscenium stages use a greater variety of drapes than arena or thrust stages. In proscenium theaters, drapes are typically suspended from battens that are 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, this enables the drape to be quickly raised above the proscenium arch—thus positioning it out of view of spectators—or lowered to any arbitrary height above the stage, as required.

1 Types of drapes and curtains
2 References
3 See also

Types of drapes and curtains

Grand drapes

Main article: Front curtain

The front curtain, which is variously called a grand drape, act curtain, house curtain, house drape, main drape or, in the UK, tabs, hangs upstage (i.e., toward the rear of the stage) of the proscenium arch. There are several common types of front curtains:

In smaller theaters, they often consist of two curtains which part horizontally (known as a traveler).
In larger theaters, they usually open vertically, disappearing out of sight into the fly tower. This style of opening is known as a guillotine reveal, after the famous execution tool.
A single curtain which covers the entire opening by moving horizontally is called a wipe.
A tableau curtain gathers the two sections of fabric up and to the sides (in a "French Action") and usually forms a draped effect when it is opened.
A Venetian or Braille curtain has vertical lift lines across the back which raise the curtain by gathering it up from the bottom.
An Austrian curtain or a Roman Drape is similar to a Venetian curtain but instead of the fabric hanging straight down in pleats, the fabric hangs in swags between the lift lines.
A contour or profile curtain is a Venetian or Austrian curtain in which the lift lines can be raised and lowered independently, allowing the curtain opening to be shaped.

False proscenium

Hard teasers and tormentors are flat, horizontal and vertical (respectively) pieces that are located just upstage of the grand drape. Together, one hard teaser and a pair of tormentors (one on each side of the stage) are frequently used to form a reduced-size "false proscenium" within the frame of the actual theater proscenium. Hard teasers and tormentors are typically covered with thin plywood, which in turn is covered with dark colored, light-absorbing material. The teaser is usually flown from a dedicated batten so that its height can be independently adjusted so as to optimize its masking of the flies (the fly system and its loads).^[1]

In some productions, a show portal is used in place of a false proscenium. This is a decorative "frame" for the stage which also serves to mask backstage areas, just as a teaser and tormentors would.^[1]

Legs, borders and tabs

Legs are tall, narrow stage drapes that are used to mask the wings on either side of the stage. Borders, are wide, short draperies that span the width of the stage; these are used to mask lights and scenery that have been raised into the fly loft. Legs and borders are typically made from a heavy, light-absorbing material similar to that of other stage drapes. Typically, a set of two legs, one on each side of the stage, and one border, is used to form a complete masking "frame" around the stage. Several such sets of legs and borders are typically employed at varying distances upstage from the proscenium.

Tabs are drapes that hang at the sides of the stage perpendicular to the proscenium opening to mask the wings, as shown in the drawing at the top of this page.

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.

Backdrops

A backdrop (or cloth) is a painted curtain that hangs in the back of the stage to indicate scenery.

Cycloramas

Main article: Cyclorama (theater)

A cyclorama or cyc is a large white curtain, often concave, at the back of the stage that can be lit to represent the sky or other backgrounds.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Gillette, Michael (2000). Theatrical Design and Production (Fourth ed.). Mayfield Publishing Company. pp. 56–63. ISBN 0767411919.