Stage Drapery Planning

Applications of Stage Drapery

The use of fabrics in everyday theatre practice is probably as old as theatre itself. The functions of textiles on stage are as diverse as they are demanding. Fabrics must conceal or highlight, sometimes be acoustically transparent, other times sound-absorbing. From the representative main curtain of an opera house to velvet borders or molton curtains, every textile in a theatre has its specific role and special requirements.

Curtains and technical textiles must be selected, manufactured, and installed with a high level of expertise to ensure they look good and function properly in stage operations.

Stage Drapery Planning – selecting the right material for every purpose

Stage textiles can be used in a variety of ways. Depending on their purpose, fabrics must meet either visual or technical requirements, often both simultaneously. A main curtain is a good example: it is usually made of heavy stage velvet with an appealing visible surface, which can be simple, modern, or classic in design. Most main curtains are constructed in multiple layers, with sound-damping interlayers, lining fabrics, sewn-in hand loops and pockets, and replaceable wear strips along the bottom edge.

Notably, the main curtain of a theatre is a key design element of the auditorium and is therefore typically planned in close coordination with the architect’s office.

The so-called “sound-blocking curtain” – used during rapid scene changes to prevent the audience from hearing construction noise – also consists of multiple layers, generally including a visible surface and several additional layers of fabrics and foils.

Visible and Invisible Surfaces

In theatres, textiles are used both as permanently installed elements, such as the main curtain, and as temporary constructions, like elaborately painted backdrops, known as drops. Depending on their characteristics, fabrics can be embroidered, appliquéd, printed, painted, dyed, or sprayed.

Some fabrics, however, are intended to be unobtrusive and to block sightlines. These include borders and legs, as well as large-scale backdrops serving as rear closures. For these purposes, black textiles are typically chosen; velvet fabrics are particularly suitable due to their high light absorption. A more economical alternative is classic stage molton.

To darken performance spaces when needed, so-called blackout fabrics are used. These lightproof textiles are installed directly in front of window openings.

Effect fabrics, used primarily as design elements, are extremely diverse: LED curtains with integrated light sources, greenscreens for filming, stretch fabrics with extremely high elasticity, and more.

Acoustic Properties of Stage Textiles

Curtains can significantly influence the acoustic characteristics of a performance space, such as reverberation, reflections, and speech intelligibility. Different textiles have distinct acoustic properties that can be used purposefully. Factors that play a role include the material and surface weight of the fabric, the weave, and the distance from the wall.

To adjust the acoustics of a venue as required, fabrics with specific acoustic properties can be deployed to cover reflective surfaces of the auditorium—often using motorized systems.

Through the expert and targeted use of acoustically effective fabrics, performance spaces can be equipped to function optimally not only in terms of installed technology but also in terms of acoustics.

Flame-Retardant Stage Fabrics

Stage curtains must comply with regulations for assembly venues and be flame-retardant. This can be achieved in different ways. One option is to treat the fabrics with a flame-retardant agent. However, the effectiveness of this treatment is not permanent and must be regularly verified through burn tests.

Alternatively, stage textiles can be manufactured from inherently flame-retardant yarns, making them permanently flame-resistant. When selecting fabrics for decorative constructions, the required level of flame retardancy depends on the safety systems installed in the theater. If the venue is equipped with an automatic fire suppression system, fabrics made from normally flammable materials may be sufficient.

Installation of Stage Curtains

Curtains are best installed at the very end of a construction project. Construction dust is the natural enemy of black velvet curtains. The fabrics are pre-fabricated at the manufacturer and delivered to the theater with a slight excess length. The final length is then adjusted on stage so that the curtain fits perfectly. Only once the even distance to the floor is achieved and the folds fall correctly can it be ready for the moment: Curtain up!