Theatre Curtains Don’t Last Forever

When you own a theatre, whether it is a provincial one or in one of the big cities, there will be times when you need to replace some of the curtains. Like anything else, they will wear out over time, and won’t last forever. Certainly, provided you choose a reputable manufacturer, your curtains should last for many years.

They may not all need replacement at the same time, of course, since some get more wear and tear than others. The front of house auditorium curtains are moved about all the time, whereas backdrops and legs aren’t.

Then there is also the question of the material from which they are made. Some fabrics are quite light, whereas others such as the different velvets used for auditorium curtains can be extremely heavy indeed. One would imagine that the heavier materials would last longer, but that is not always the case. Velvet stage curtains used for the front of house can take quite a lot of punishment, heavy though they may be. This seems to be especially true if they are opened and closed using ropes, because different stagehands will put different strains on them.

Of course, it is not only theatres which need very large curtains. You may have a village hall, a church hall, a school hall, a conference centre – and they will all need very large curtains, which won’t last forever. Certainly, if you have a village hall, the curtains won’t get as much use as in a theatre, but you have to allow for replacement at some point.

Manufacturing Theatre Curtains Is A Specialist Skill

When you are putting on a play, you need above all to be able to get the full attention of the audience and let them hear your actors and actresses perfectly, without any interruptions of noise from stage hands moving about behind the scenery or light coming in when it should not.

This is the reason that there are so many types of theatre curtains, in addition to the main auditorium curtains. There are backdrops, legs, tormentors, flybars, cycloramas, and more, and they are all very large compared with the curtains you have at your bedroom or bathroom windows.

This means that, if you need any sort of theatrical curtains made for your theatre, cinema, church hall, village hall, and more, you need the services of a company that can handle the manufacture of extremely large pieces of fabric. You can’t just pop down to your local fabric store and ask them to make them, because they simply won’t have the skills or the equipment. Producing huge theatre drapes is very different.

Apart from any other consideration, depending on the type of material that you choose, and the size of the curtains, they can be extremely heavy, and will need special handling. Theatre curtains can be made in any colour of course, although red theatre curtains are always a favourite because it is such an eye-catching colour. 

Of course, a specialist manufacturer will be able to supply any type of material and in any colour that you need, including fire resistant curtains.

Cameo Make Curtains For Big Windows.

At Cameo Curtains, we are known the length and breadth of the country for our theatre and stage curtains. We manufacture and supply every type of theatre curtain including front of house curtains, tormentors, legs, backdrops, cycloramas (or cycs), borders, – in fact everything you could need. In addition to that, we supply all the theatre equipment that you need such as curtain tracks, theatre ropes, motors for motorised curtains, and we also have a full installation service for any venue in the UK. In fact, if you are buying curtains and/or equipment from us you should always let us install it because it is a job for professionals using the right equipment and tools.

However, we don’t just manufacture theatre curtains. Because we have the equipment and a skilled workforce, we can make any type of curtains for big windows. Very many buildings have large windows, some of them very large indeed.

Read more information : Curtains for big windows

Some Things To Consider When Buying Curtains For Large Windows

The curtains that you choose can make or break your room, so it is important to spend some time choosing the type of material that you want, especially when considering curtains for big windows. There are a number of things to take into consideration.

The first of these is the type of fabric. If it is too light, they may not hang well, and if too heavy they may not fold crisply when they are drawn, especially when choosing curtains for wide windows. It is worthwhile holding a piece of the fabric up to a window – even in the fabric shop – by pleating a piece at the top like an accordion and holding it up to see how well it drapes. If it flares outwards, it probably won’t hang very well.

 It is also worth noting that, if your room gets a lot of sunlight, it is probably a good idea to avoid very bright colours for the simple reason that they tend to fade faster than neutral colours. If you choose neutral colours you will find that they tend to blend in better with the room.

Another consideration when choosing curtains for large windows is how high above the window you want them to start. If you hang them six inches above the window it adds a sense of height to the room, and you could go even more if there is space. When measuring the width, add up to eight inches on each side and double the total figure. This will give fullness to the curtains and when open they won’t block the glass in the window.

Cleaning Stage Curtains Is A Specialist Job

If you have any sort of stage curtains, whether in a village hall, church hall, theatre, cinema, and more, there is no doubt that – as with anything else – they will get dirty over time. Of course, if your curtains at home get dirty you can simply take them down and put them in the washing machine if they are not too big, and of course depending on the material. If they are simply net curtains you can wash them, but otherwise you might have to take them to the dry cleaners instead for curtain cleaning.

 However, stage curtains are a whole different ball game, partly because of their size, and partly because they may need to be flameproofed. As it happens, there are companies around who can undertake drapery cleaning of stage curtains because they have the right sort of equipment that can handle very large items, and they have trained staff.

Of course, a curtain cleaning service for curtains the size of stage curtains is not going to be cheap, but it is a lot less expensive to have your stage curtains cleaned every now and again rather than leaving them until they really look dreadful and then throwing them away and buying new. In the meantime, your audience would be sitting there looking at tatty old curtains that haven’t been cleaned in years. This could even have an effect on your takings, because you might find that people would stop attending your shows simply because of the state of the curtains.

Don’t Buy New Stage Curtains – Get Your Present Ones Cleaned

Nothing lasts forever, and unfortunately, that includes theatre curtains. As a very rough rule of thumb, it has been said that, with all the abuse they suffer, after ten years, theatre curtains are going to look a little the worse for wear.

However, that is only a very rough guide and will depend on the type of material (obviously), how often they are used, and the type of venue. Obviously, the amount of use can vary enormously, with West End theatres maybe having ten productions a week, while the local village hall may only have half a dozen a year. However, whether they are in a West End theatre or the village hall, they will still get dirty – some fabrics more so than others.

So what’s the answer? Do you bite the bullet, pull them down, and invest in new curtains, or what? That’s certainly one answer, but it can be an expensive one.

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The Impact of the Right Theatre Curtains on Stage Performances

Stage curtains conceal some parts of the stage and only reveal these during a movement in a scene. They help transport the audience from one place to another. With the right use of theatre drapes, you can now stage the most complex plots on the same stage.

This is one of the most valuable tools for play producers, production and stage managers. Whether you want to stage a play in a village hall, school, town hall or on open grounds, these curtains come in handy. 

Choosing Theatre Curtains

A good curtain and drape manufacturer will deliver measure-to-size curtains to suit your stage needs. These manufacturers use different fabrics and curtain styles to suit different needs.

The possibilities for custom stage curtains are endless. You can always get your curtain designer to come up with unique styles to suit your new play. Some of the most common curtains you will need for your theatre include:

• Proscenium curtains: They include the main curtain and the main valance and provide a decorative barrier between the audience and the stage.
• Main curtain/front curtain/ grand drape: This is the drape an audience sees just before the play opens, at intermissions and after the show ends.
• Grand teaser/valance/border: The curtain in front of the main curtain.
• Traveller/draw/bi-parting curtains: Constructed in two parts, these curtains move a lot during a performance.
• Masking curtains: Used to conceal theatre equipment. Include leg curtains, borders, side and back curtains,
• Scrim: A thin curtain used for special effects and can appear and disappear through different light settings.
• Backdrops: These hang at the rear of the stage and help change scenery.

When choosing your curtain supplier, look for a company that offers comprehensive theatre solutions. These include the supply of rigging and lighting equipment, installation and cleaning of curtains and drapes, among other services.

Using the right curtains and drapes can tune up your stage productions by adding a touch of drama and liveliness.