1. Main Curtain (Grand Drape)
Located just inside the proscenium arch, the Main Curtain serves as the gateway to the stage and is its primary drapery. Its main function is to open and close at the beginning and end of a performance; occasionally, it also serves as an act curtain between scenes.
Types of Main Curtains include traverse (side-opening), lift (guillotine), festoon (Austrian), and contour styles. Opening mechanisms typically take one of three forms: horizontal bi-parting, butterfly-style bi-parting, or vertical lifting. The Main Curtain motor system is one of the most frequently utilized pieces of stage equipment; employing variable speed control, it allows the curtain's movement to be adjusted freely in accordance with the dramatic narrative, thereby enhancing the artistic atmosphere.
2. Second Curtain
The Second Curtain serves the dual purpose of providing decoration and segmenting the performance area.
3. Third Curtain
Like the Second Curtain, the Third Curtain serves to decorate and segment the performance area; it typically consists of a set of three curtain tracks. The Second and Third Curtains are frequently utilized during various forms of solo singing, vocal performances, and instrumental solos. In excerpts from plays or traditional opera, the opening and closing of these curtains facilitate the rapid exchange of scenery and props. This not only conserves stage space and saves time but also allows the audience to fully appreciate the unique artistic nuances of the performance. Types include traverse, lift, festoon, and contour styles.
4. Valance (Grand Valance)
The Valance is a horizontal curtain positioned above the proscenium arch, directly in front of the Main Curtain. It functions as a decorative header for the stage opening, masking the overhead rigging and fly space from the audience's view. Designed to complement the Main Curtain, it serves to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the proscenium.
5. Side Curtains (Legs) and Borders
Side Curtains (Legs) and Borders are the draperies positioned along the sides and across the top of the stage area. Their primary function is to mask the wings and overhead rigging from the audience's line of sight. Designed to enhance the visual aesthetics of the stage, they also serve to heighten the audience's perception of the stage's three-dimensional depth. Types include lift systems, fixed installations, and scenic displays.
6. Scrim
A Scrim is a specialized stage curtain used for artistic effects, frequently employed in dance performances and for creating special visual illusions to enhance the stage's sense of depth and dimensionality.
7. Cyclorama (Sky Curtain)
The Cyclorama is the final curtain positioned at the very back of the stage. Typically set approximately 60 centimeters away from the rear wall, it is designed to allow actors to pass quickly and freely across the stage behind it during a performance.