The front curtain, also called house curtain, act curtain, grand drape, main drape, main curtain, proscenium curtain, main rag or, in the UK, tabs, hangs downstage, just behind the proscenium arch. It is typically opened and closed during performances to reveal or conceal the stage and scenery from the audience.
What is the front curtain called on a stage?
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.
What do you call the backdrop of a stage?
The terms “cyclorama,” “scrim,” and “backdrop” are often used interchangeably, so it can get confusing to understand what each term really refers to in the theatre. Cyclorama. A Cyclorama (or “cyc”) refers to a white or natural seamless flat muslin panel.
What are three types of curtains used on the stage?
They also are available in many different fabric options and custom designs. Although the possibilities for custom stage curtains are endless, there are three basic types of theatre curtains: proscenium curtains, masking curtains and backdrops.
What is a proscenium curtain?
The Proscenium Curtain, also called Front or Main Curtain, is used as a sight and sound barrier between the audience and stage. As the focus point for the audience before a performance, the proscenium curtain also serves as an important design element.
What is a grand drape in theatre?
Definition of grand drape
: a decorative narrow curtain hung along the top of a proscenium arch on the side toward the audience.
What is the middle curtain called?
The cafe curtain is a window treatment that covers the bottom half of a window. Most commonly cafe curtains are used in the kitchen on a cafe rod hung at the halfway point of a window.
Why are stage curtains red?
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.
What fabric is used in theater 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.
What is a theatre scrim?
A scrim is a woven material, either finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theatre, or a heavy, coarse woven material used for reinforcement in both building and canvasmaking.
What color are stage curtains?
A thus, the theatre curtain was created. Taking the inspiration from Europe, red curtains were then often used, and the red colour suited the grandeur of the theatrical environment, the trend stayed. The colour red, is also associated with royal patronage.
What are leg curtains?
Description
Legs and borders are technical theatre drapes that are used to give depth to the stage and sometimes to mask stage equipment. Tabs are theatre curtains that hang at the sides of the stage perpendicular to the proscenium arch to mask the wings.
