What are Masking Curtains?
Masking Curtains are the curtains you see from the audience, which hide something from view. Often black or dark blue in color with a slight sheen similar to velvet, these curtains are used to hide offstage areas, scenic elements yet to be revealed, and to control acoustics in theaters.
There are two different kinds of masking curtains that are most common, which are differentiated by which direction they run, as well as their purpose. They are called Legs (vertical masking) and Borders (horizontal masking).
What Are Legs?
Legs in theatre are vertical masking curtains which are typically dark blue or black and meant to hide the sides of the stage from the audience’s view. These curtains must be completely opaque and fire resistant.
Depending on the size of the theatre and the width of the proscenium, legs will be hung every 5-10 feet. They are most often hung straight across each batten, but can be hung on a traveler. Travelers enable legs to be moved a few feet on or off stage, and often can rotate to maximize coverage.
What Are Borders?
A Border in theatre is a horizontal masking curtain which runs the width of the theatre. These are used to hide the lights hanging above, as well as the ceiling from audience view. Similar to Legs, they must be opaque and fire resistant for safety. Dimensions vary in each venue.
Borders are typically hung right in front of each set of legs in order to mask lighting fixtures as well as the ceiling. Borders are usually hung directly on the batten, since they only need to fly in and out.
What Is The Best Material for Masking Curtains?
Most stage curtains are velour, which are great for their light and sound absorption compared to thinner fabrics. These are what you typically picture as curtains in a theatre. Temporary solutions use thinner polyester fabric often marketed as “commando”, which is light weight and inexpensive.
For permanent installations, velour is best for its looks, light control, and sound absorption. For temporary applications where curtains might be cut down or resized for each new application, I recommend the less expensive option of commando fabrics. These other fabrics are also useful in situations where weight is a concern, since they can be much lighter weight.
Velour fabrics have definitive visual advantages which have made them so popular. They are also heavier, which means airflow will have less effect on large panels, and better acoustic absorption. I recommend consulting the sales team where you plan to purchase in order to get their input on your needs and their specific supplies.
What Weight Of Curtain Is Best?
Masking curtains generally range in weight from 12-32 ounces, with higher weights meaning a better quality curtain. When it comes to curtains, ounces refers to the weight of the curtain per square yard.
When choosing the correct weight for your setup, I generally advise you choose the heaviest weight you are able to afford within your budget. Often this has a higher impact on your final product than the exact type of curtain you choose, as there are often multiple choices.
What is the difference between FR, IFR, or NFR Fabric?
FR, IFR, and NFR all refer to a products flame resistance. FR stands for Flame Retardant, IFR stands for Inherently Flame Retardant, and NFR stands for Not Flame Retardant.
Fabric marked as FR (Flame Retardant) have been treated with a fire resistant treatment. These fabrics can not be washed without dissolving the flame resistant treatment, so extra care must be used around these fabrics.
Fabrics which are Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR) have been woven out of materials which are naturally flame resistant. These fabrics can be washed without risk, as there is no risk of washing out the treatment as there is with FR fabrics.
NFR stands for Not Flame Resistant, and should not be used for masking curtains unless treated for such applications.
Though some people prefer the natural look of FR materials, when choosing between FR and IFR you should consider the additional ongoing cost of re-treating FR curtains to maintain their FR rating. While both FR and IFR curtains require periodic cleaning, the FR curtains also require chemical treatment every 3-5 years to maintain their FR rating.
As a general rule, count on about $75 per curtain for treatment should you choose to have a company come out to treat them.
Where To Buy Stage Curtains
To clarify, I am not an affiliate and am not sponsored to say this.
Although there are some cheaper alternatives, I recommend Rose Brand as the first place to look for purchasing stage curtains. I have received quality products and services from them many times through the years, and they are my go to for anything fabric. I often shop around, but most of the time I end up purchasing from Rose Brand.
Keep in mind when shopping (through any fabric provider) that the shipping for large heavy curtains is often not cheap. If you are able to order online and pick up the order in person at one of their locations you can save often many hundreds of dollars even on small orders.
