Stage Curtains: Types, Fabric, Fire Rating and Track
Stage curtains are the drapes that frame, mask and change a stage: the main curtain that opens the show, the legs and borders that hide the wings and the lighting, and the backdrop that closes off the back wall. Getting them right comes down to three decisions: which curtains the stage actually needs, which fabric (and fire rating) they are made from, and how they hang, whether on a ceiling track, on the venue's rigging or on freestanding pipe and drape. This guide walks through all three for school stages, churches, ballrooms, studios and event stages.
The types of stage curtains
A full theatre "soft goods" package has names for every piece. Most venues need only some of them, so start by knowing what each one does:
- Main curtain (grand drape or house curtain) — the front curtain just behind the proscenium. It is the one the audience sees open at the start of a performance, so it is usually the heaviest, most formal fabric on the stage, often in a classic red, burgundy or black.
- Valance (grand valance) — a short horizontal curtain hung in front of the main curtain to hide the track or pipe it hangs from.
- Legs — tall, narrow curtains hung in pairs at the sides of the stage. They mask the wings, so the audience cannot see performers waiting to enter.
- Borders — short, wide curtains hung across the stage above the acting area. They mask the lighting positions and the rigging overhead. Legs and borders together are called masking.
- Travelers — curtains on a track that draw sideways from the centre, used mid-stage or upstage to change the depth of the stage between scenes.
- Backdrop (rear curtain) — the full-width curtain at the back of the stage. Black for a neutral look, or a colour that suits the room.
- Cyclorama (cyc) and scrim — light-coloured or open-weave fabrics lit for colour and effects. They are specialist pieces and are usually specified with the lighting design.
A small school or church stage can do a great deal with three items: a main curtain, one pair of legs and a backdrop. Add borders when the lighting is visible from the seats, and travelers when the programme needs scene changes.
Stage curtain fabric: velvet, velour and masking cloth
Stage drapes are made from a handful of fabrics, and the choice is about how the curtain looks, how it hangs and how much light it stops.
- Velvet and velour — pile fabrics with a deep, soft finish that absorbs light and looks formal under stage lighting. "Velour" is the traditional theatre name for heavy pile curtain fabric, and many buyers use velvet and velour interchangeably. Pile fabric is the usual choice for main curtains, legs and backdrops that the audience looks at.
- Masking cloth (duvetyne, commando cloth, molton) — matte black fabrics whose job is to disappear. They suit backstage masking, camera backgrounds and borders that only need to stop light. See duvetyne and the comparison in duvetyne vs commando cloth.
- Satin and lighter drapes — quicker to handle and lighter on hardware. Good for event stages and backdrops that are set up and struck often, less suited to a formal main curtain.
Expo Warehouse stocks WENTEX Velvet Napoli, a 260 g/m² polyester velvet sewn into pleated stage and pipe and drape curtains from 4 ft to 16 ft tall. At 16 ft it is offered in eight colours, including black, red, burgundy, royal blue and white, and there is also a heavier 480 g/m² black Velvet Napoli for a denser, more light-tight curtain. For a deeper fabric-by-fabric comparison, read the best fabric for stage backdrops.
Fire-retardant stage curtains are not optional
Any curtain hung in a school, church, theatre or other public venue will be checked by the fire marshal, and the first question is whether the fabric is flame retardant. In the USA the standard is NFPA 701; in Canada it is CAN/ULC-S109. Two things to know before you buy:
- Inherently vs treated. Inherently flame-retardant fabrics are flame retardant through the fibre itself. Treated fabrics have a flame-retardant finish applied, and that finish can be reduced by washing or wet cleaning, so ask how the curtain should be cleaned and when it should be re-tested.
- Paperwork. Keep the certificate of flame resistance on file with the venue's records. Inspectors ask for it, and it is far easier to supply at installation than to track down later.
Our drape fabrics are certified to NFPA 701 and CAN/ULC-S109, and a Certificate of Flame Resistance is available on request. Fire codes also require curtains to keep exits, exit signs and sprinkler heads clear, so walk the layout with the venue before installation. More detail: is duvetyne flame retardant?
How stage curtains hang: track, rigging or pipe and drape
The fabric is only half of a stage curtain. The other half is what holds it up, and the right answer depends on whether the stage is permanent and whether the curtain needs to move.
| Hanging method | Best for | Curtain moves? |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling or wall-mounted curtain track | Permanent stages in schools, churches, ballrooms and studios | Yes, by hand or by rope |
| The venue's rigging (battens and line sets) | Theatres with a fly system | Yes, flown in and out by the rigging |
| Freestanding pipe and drape | Event stages, touring shows and rooms you cannot drill | No, it is a fixed backdrop or masking wall |
Stage curtain track
For a permanent stage, a ceiling-mounted track is the standard way to hang a main curtain, a traveler or a backdrop that has to open and close. WENTEX Eurotrack is a heavy-duty aluminum curtain track: rail sections join into one continuous run, carriers ride inside the rail and hold the curtain, and the curtain is drawn by hand or with an optional pulley-and-rope system so one person can open the whole run from the side of the stage. Match the carriers to the curtain: standard 2-wheel carriers for light and mid-weight drape, and heavy-duty 4+4-wheel runners for heavy velvet. The Eurotrack curtain track guide covers the parts and how to plan an install.
Rigging and battens
Theatres with a fly system hang curtains from battens on line sets, so a curtain can be flown in and out. That work belongs to the venue's rigger or a theatrical rigging contractor; the curtains themselves are the same fabrics described above.
Pipe and drape stage backdrops
For a stage that is built for an event and then struck, freestanding pipe and drape does the job of backdrop and side masking with no ceiling work at all. Telescopic uprights on weighted base plates carry crossbars, and the same pleated Velvet Napoli curtains slide onto the crossbars. WENTEX uprights lock at height with a compression brake and tightening handle, and a pipe and drape kit bundles matched hardware and drape on a steel rolling trolley. The complete guide to pipe and drape explains the system.
Sizing stage curtains
- Height. Measure from the track, batten or crossbar down to the stage floor. A curtain should clear the floor slightly rather than puddle, so it moves freely and does not become a trip hazard.
- Width. Measure the full opening the curtain must cover. A main curtain or traveler is usually two panels that overlap at the centre; legs only need to be wide enough to mask the sightline into the wings from the outermost seats.
- Fullness. A curtain hung flat looks thin under light. Pleated curtains have the fullness sewn in, so you order to the width of the opening; flat fabric needs extra width to gather.
For a freestanding backdrop, the free pipe and drape calculator turns a length and height into uprights, bases, crossbars and drape panels.
Stage curtains for schools, churches and venues
- School stages and auditoriums — a main curtain, legs and a backdrop cover most school productions, assemblies and graduations. Durability and fire paperwork matter more here than anywhere, because the curtains are used daily and inspected regularly.
- Church stages — a backdrop behind the platform, often black for a clean look on camera, with side masking to hide equipment. A track lets volunteers change the look between services without ladders.
- Ballrooms and hotels — stage masking and backdrops that change from event to event. Many ballrooms run a ceiling track for the permanent stage and pipe and drape for everything else.
- Studios and live-stream sets — matte black masking that absorbs light and disappears on camera.
- Event and touring stages — freestanding pipe and drape backdrops and wings that pack down and travel.
Get your stage curtains specified
Send us the stage width, the height to the track or batten, which curtains you need (main, legs, borders, traveler, backdrop), the colour, and whether the curtains must open and close, and we will spec the drape, track, carriers and mounting hardware. Request a quote or call (877) 371-3847, Mon–Fri 9–5 ET.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of stage curtains?
The main types are the main curtain (grand drape) at the front of the stage, the valance above it, legs at the sides, borders overhead, travelers that draw sideways mid-stage or upstage, the backdrop at the rear, and specialist pieces such as a cyclorama or scrim. Legs and borders together are called masking.
What fabric are stage curtains made of?
Main curtains, legs and backdrops are usually velvet or velour, a pile fabric that absorbs light and looks formal under stage lighting. Masking that only needs to block light is often made from matte black duvetyne, commando cloth or molton. Whatever the fabric, it must be flame retardant for use in a public venue.
Do stage curtains have to be fire retardant?
Yes, in schools, churches, theatres and other public venues. Fire marshals expect curtains to be flame retardant to NFPA 701 in the USA or CAN/ULC-S109 in Canada, and to keep exits and exit signage clear. Keep the certificate of flame resistance on file. Our drape fabrics are certified to both standards and a certificate is available on request.
What is the difference between velvet and velour stage curtains?
Both are pile fabrics with a soft, light-absorbing surface. Velour is the traditional theatre term for heavy curtain fabric, and the two names are often used interchangeably when buying stage curtains. What matters more is the fabric weight, the colour and the fire rating.
How are stage curtains hung?
On a permanent stage, curtains hang from a ceiling or wall-mounted curtain track such as Eurotrack, or from battens on the venue's rigging. On an event or temporary stage, they hang from freestanding pipe and drape. Use a track when the curtain must open and close.
What is a stage curtain track?
A stage curtain track is a rail mounted to the ceiling or a wall. Carriers ride inside the rail and hold the curtain, so it can be drawn open and closed by hand or with a pulley-and-rope system. Heavy velvet needs heavy-duty carriers.
What color should stage curtains be?
Black is the most versatile: it disappears under stage lighting and on camera, which makes it the standard for legs, borders and backdrops. Red and burgundy are the classic main-curtain colours for a traditional look, and other colours suit a stage that should match the room.
