Stage curtains are an indispensable component of proscenium stages found in various theaters, cinemas, auditoriums, clubs, and broadcasting studios; they serve to decorate the stage and enhance the overall impact of a performance. The curtains currently in widespread use on stages primarily include the main curtain (Grand Drape), second curtain, third curtain, (front) valance, side curtains (wings), scrims, cycloramas, sound-absorbing curtains, festoon curtains, and fire safety curtains.
1. Proscenium Curtain
The main curtain serves as the gateway to the stage and is its primary drapery. It is principally used to mark the opening and closing of a performance, though it is occasionally utilized as an act curtain during the show itself. Opening styles for the main curtain include bi-parting (center-opening), lift-style (guillotine), festoon (Austrian), and butterfly styles.
The main curtain motor system is one of the most frequently utilized pieces of equipment on stage. Employing variable-speed control, it allows the curtain's movement speed to be adjusted freely in accordance with the dramatic requirements of the plot, thereby playing a crucial role in enhancing the artistic atmosphere.
2. Fore-proscenium Curtain
The front valance is a horizontal strip of drapery positioned above and in front of the main curtain. Its primary function is to block the audience's view of the rigging equipment suspended in the fly space above the stage. Serving as a complementary element to the main curtain, it helps to frame and accentuate the aesthetic appeal of the main drape.
3. Second Curtain & Third Curtain
The second curtain is situated immediately behind the main curtain, while the third curtain is positioned behind the second. These curtains are utilized for various forms of performance, such as solo singing, vocal ensembles, and instrumental solos. In theatrical and operatic productions, the opening and closing of the second and third curtains facilitate rapid changes of scenery and props between scenes. Typically, the second and third curtains are constructed as bi-parting drapes with a 3:1 fullness ratio (three times the width of the opening); in some instances, the third curtain may be a scrim.
4. Side Curtains
The vertical strips of drapery positioned along the sides of the main stage are known as side curtains (or wings); they serve to define and frame the actual performance area. These side curtains can be rigged in various configurations-such as parallel lines, a forward-converging "V" shape, or a reverse-converging "V" shape - to alter the planar dimensions of the performance zone. Furthermore, they function to mask the backstage space from the audience's view, thereby guiding and focusing the spectators' attention squarely upon the designated performance area.
5. Transverse Curtain
The horizontal curtain suspended above the main stage is known as the *valance* (or *teaser*). Working in conjunction with the side curtains (*tormentors*) on the left and right, it controls the visual height of the performance space and conceals the scenery, lighting fixtures, and other equipment located in the upper interior of the stage area from the audience's view, while simultaneously enhancing the audience's perception of the stage's three-dimensional depth. Types include adjustable (liftable) and fixed configurations.
6. Veil Curtain
A *veil curtain* (or *scrim*) is a specialized curtain used in stage arts; it is generally not considered a permanent fixture of the theater. It is frequently employed in dance performances and for special effects to enhance the stage's sense of depth. A veil curtain hung at the proscenium opening is termed a *proscenium scrim*, while one hung in front of the cyclorama lighting zone is called a *background scrim*; they can also be draped to serve as decorative backing curtains. On stage, open-weave netting is commonly used to create seamless white scrims, black scrims, and painted scrims, which serve to depict specific scenic environments.
By directing light from behind a painted scrim onto the background scenery, characters and spatial environments hidden behind the scrim can be revealed, making it easy to portray illusory scenes such as dreams or flashbacks. Conversely, directing light from the front of the scrim serves to highlight and render visible the images painted upon it. When light is directed onto the scrim from the rear, the images painted on the front of the scrim appear to vanish completely.
While all scrims possess these characteristics, white and light-colored scrims exhibit a stronger reflective effect. Dark-colored - particularly black - scrims are more effective at absorbing scattered stage light, making them better suited for creating illusory, ethereal, or misty spatial effects.
7. Cyclorama
The *cyclorama* (or *cyc*) is a curtain situated at the very rear of a proscenium-arch stage, designed to depict skyscapes and distant background scenery. Its height and width typically exceed the dimensions of the proscenium opening. Depending on the specific requirements of the production, it can be constructed as a flat surface or as a wide, curved backdrop.
8. Fire Curtain
The *fire curtain* is a fire-safety device installed at the proscenium opening that is designed to descend immediately in the event of a stage fire, thereby rapidly isolating the fire zone from the audience area. During its descent, the curtain decelerates in stages, coming to a smooth rest at the stage floor while maintaining a secure, airtight seal against the proscenium arch. The body of this safety fire curtain consists of a lightweight steel structure coated on both sides with fire-retardant paint. The upper section of the curtain assembly may be equipped with a water-curtain system that automatically sprays water in the event of a fire to help cool the curtain surface.