Curtains

[JCC1996]

Hi,

 

A bit of a rookie question, but its been annoying me for a while now! Would someone be kind enough to talk me through the different curtain names on a typical Proscenium arch stage?

 

Obviously front tabs are front tabs, but what are teasers? and tormentors? And the small horizontal lines between LX bars?

 

And what is the definition of a 'Black'? Is that just a general term for any curtain on stage?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Joe

[Mushypeas]

There's such a wide variety that it's difficult to get a clear answer. There's a Wikipedia page here to start you off but it will, and does (round my way at least), vary from place to place.

 

Luke

 

 

[J Pearce]

Whaleys have a good guide somewhere on their website.

Some terminology can be a bit regional, but most is understood by all, even if it isn't universal.

[paulears]

Front tabs are usually called house tabs - front and rear of course usually termed downstage and upstage. Teasers and tormentors are not common terminology now, but borders and legs are what we'd probably call them nowadays. The vertical tormentors were often seen in timber framed versions with a doorway at the bottom, and some had slots higher up to allow sidelight to get through. So they were semi-permanent masking. Where these things were used for framing, some people would call them a false pros or a portal - these terms cover the vertical and horizontal parts. As for blacks - yep, pretty well means what it says. You could have a set of blacks, or black border, or legs, or a cloth. It's also common for old, perhaps ripped blacks to be called 'tat'.

[jonathanhill]

'Blacks' is the generic name for most of the soft (fabric) masking in use.

 

More specifically they are characterised by the width (header) and length (drop) and sometimes the style (with or without fullness, or 'ripplyness')

 

Leg: short header, long drop

 

Border: long header, short drop

 

Half tabs: generally header and drop about the same, often used in pairs, can be referred to as flat (no ripples) or full (some/lots of ripples)

 

Full blacks: generic name for big black curtains (drapes) used to mask the back of the stage. Often half tabs, and often without fullness (flat)

 

In specifying masking from a manufacturer, it is prurient to give header and drop measurements, type of attachment (ties, eyelets, Velcro), finishing of the bottom (conduit pocket, chain weighted, shot weighted), and style (sewn flat, percentage of fullness).