Types of drapes and curtains Theater drapes and stage curtains

1 types of drapes , curtains

1.1 grand drapes
1.2 false proscenium
1.3 legs, borders, travelers, , tabs
1.4 scrims
1.5 backdrops
1.6 cycloramas

types of drapes , curtains
grand drapes


austrian curtain.

the front curtain, variously called grand drape, act curtain, house curtain, house drape, main drape, main rag, or, in uk, tabs, hangs downstage, behind proscenium arch. typically opened , closed during performances reveal or conceal stage , scenery audience.

there several types of front curtains, may consist of single section or 2 sections, of fabric may pleated or flat. depending on type, front curtains may travel horizontally or vertically. in case of front curtains travel vertically, types gather near top of proscenium when opened, while others raised fly space above stage.

false proscenium

hard teasers , tormentors flat, horizontal , vertical (respectively) pieces located upstage of grand drape. together, 1 hard teaser , pair of tormentors (one on each side of stage) used form reduced-size false proscenium within frame of actual theater proscenium. hard teasers , tormentors typically covered thin plywood, in turn covered dark colored, light-absorbing material. teaser flown dedicated batten height can independently adjusted optimize masking of flies (the fly system , loads). in uk teaser referred house header.

in productions, show portal used in place of false proscenium. decorative frame stage serves mask backstage areas, teaser , tormentors would.

legs, borders, travelers, , tabs

legs masking theater wings



theatre side curtains (black, lime, pink) (albert hall stage, canberra)(2016)

legs tall, narrow stage drapes used mask wings on either side of stage. borders, wide, short draperies span width of stage; these used mask lights , scenery have been raised fly loft. legs , borders typically made heavy, light-absorbing material similar of other stage drapes. typically, set of 2 legs, 1 on each side of stage, , 1 border, used form complete masking frame around stage. several such sets of legs , borders typically employed @ varying distances upstage proscenium.

travelers curtains onstage can open (typically same width legs) , close (typically obscuring entire upstage, creating portals).

drapes hang @ sides of stage perpendicular proscenium opening mask wings known tabs (outside of uk), shown in drawing @ top of page. in uk (where tabs refers different type of drape), these curtains have other names, & downers (as unlike drapery runs across stage, these run upstage downstage).

scrims

a scrim, gauze, curtain made of open-weave fabric appears opaque when lit front, transparent when person or object behind curtain lit.

backdrops

a backdrop (or cloth) painted curtain hangs in of stage indicate scenery. before advent of motion pictures, theaters have 6-8 stock painted backdrops on canvas use in live theatrical performances. these include urban scene, nature or garden scene, , domestic interior.

drops may hung various means. made of muslin has been sized , painted, top may pressed between 2 pieces of lumber (a batten) , clamped pipe, pipe or chain through hem pocket @ bottom giving weight prevent flapping. may grommeted along top , tied pipe tie-line (usually drapery cord nowadays). time-honored method of hanging drop roll-drop, in bottom of drop attached round batten. drop rolled onto back, , deployed rope rigged through blocks (pulleys) pulled offstage release tension holding batten up, unrolling until unfurled.

there form of drop used in vaudeville days, may still seen in older theaters, called olio. olio means conglomeration, , these drops roll-drops covered advertisements various sponsors, audience view between shows.

cycloramas

a cyclorama or cyc large curtain, concave, @ of stage can lit represent sky or other backgrounds. traditionally white or natural colored cloth, cycs come in various colors of white, grey, light blue , green or blue curtains used in chroma key (greenscreen) work may called cycs.

with projected scenery, cycs , scrims may used drops, employing either front or rear projection. done in general sense in 1910s , 1920s means of painted glass plates in front of lighting instruments, made sculptured shadows on cyc indicate such images cityscape or scary dungeon. (focus generalized in days; nowadays have projectors adjustable lenses.) lighting instruments (generally ellipsoidals) may used project scenic effects on cycs , scrims, using gobos, known templates or patterns. ellipsoidal reflector, light source positioned @ 1 focal point of three-dimensional ellipse, pattern - cut metal or glass or other heat-resistant material - positioned in reverse position light escaping instrument passes through pattern first, through other focal point , lenses, , projected upon cyc or scrim.