Welcome to the Rabenring Theatre Curtain Guide. On this page we answer questions about theatre curtains, which are mainly used in theatres, cinemas and other buildings where damping the acoustics (sound insulation) is very important. Rabenring is a supplier of professional stage supplies, of course also for theatre curtains. We supply theatre curtains for the “stages of the world” to the small amateur play theatre, concert hall or cinema hall. Of course, all curtains are flame retardant and comply with legal requirements. Rabenring manufactures soundproof or acoustic curtains individually from molton or other fabrics.
History of the theatre curtain
In ancient Greece, the theatre did not yet have a curtain. The theatre curtain only appeared in Roman antiquity in the middle of the 1st century BC. In the Middle Ages, in the so-called simultaneous stages, no main curtain was used, here several individual curtains or partial curtains were used to veil and reveal individual scenes. The main curtain / theatre curtain known today has only been used on stages for operas and ballet performances since the 16th century. In theatres in East Asia, different types of curtains were developed, for example, in Kabuki (theatre originating in Asia), in addition to the main curtain, act & transformation curtains and back curtains and unveiling curtains were also used.
The ancient theatre
The theatre found its origin in the cults of Dionysus. Not only were tragedies and comedies performed in it, but above all popular assemblies, sacred ceremonies, musicals and, in late antiquity, even sporting fights were held. The most famous theatre in ancient Greece was that of Athens. It was from here that it all began: it is also considered the origin of tragedy.
Ancient comedy developed from the Dionysian satyr play. It was further developed in Roman antiquity.
Symbolic meaning of the curtain
The main curtain has been considered the standard of applause since the 19th century. After a performance, the performers would step in front of the theatre curtain and take a bow. If the guests applauded persistently, the curtain was also opened several times and the performers could enjoy the recognition all the longer. Each of these re-appearances by the performers was counted as a curtain call. In 1988, Pavarotti earned the world record of 165 curtain calls in 67 minutes at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Gaetano Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore”(“The Love Potion”).
Why is a theatre curtain red?
The colour of theatre curtains dates back to the times of kings and the pompous court performances in the Middle Ages. Red was the royal colour and when a performance took place at court, the curtain naturally had to be red. In the course of time, not all theatre curtains are red. In some houses, the theatre curtains are now black.
Curtain as room divider
Curtains can easily be used to structure or divide rooms. It is up to your own taste whether you want to let the curtains fall softly or use them as a kind of sliding curtain. Particularly in large rooms in opera houses, theatres or schools, curtains have a very pleasant and harmonious effect due to their warm fabrics. Depending on its nature, a curtain used to divide a room can serve as a wall or a curved dividing line for the room. (See also: Acoustic room partitioning in the office)
Acoustic curtains – What kind of soundproof curtains are there?
Too much noise and disturbing sounds can be very annoying, especially when you need to rest. If you can’t manage with earplugs, you might want to think about soundproof curtains. These curtains specifically for soundproofing can be a good alternative.
What are acoustic curtains suitable for?
Acoustic curtains or soundproof curtains are suitable for reducing sound and noise in particularly noisy rooms such as theatres, pubs, bars and discos.
What are soundproof curtains made of?
Soundproof curtains are made of a wide variety of materials. Many manufacturers use molleton and Kalmuk, for example. Kalmuk is a particularly heavy molleton, and many manufacturers process sound-absorbing theatre curtains with layers of plastic film, which make the curtain even more effective in terms of sound insulation. The special feature of stage molleton is that this fabric is flame retardant and thus contributes to fire protection.
What noise can an acoustic curtain reduce?
With acoustic curtains you can reduce particularly high and medium frequencies. These types of noise include, for example, normal entertainment noise, such as in schools or kindergartens, and the noise level that occurs on heavily frequented roads. Noise with lower frequencies cannot be absorbed as well by soundproof curtains, such as airport noise or direct construction site noise.
Theatre curtains made from Molton, Kalmuk or Akutexâ„¢.
Most acoustic curtains for theatres and stages are made of high-quality Molton, Kalmuk or Akutexâ„¢. A plastic film is sometimes sewn between the different layers that make up a theatre curtain to improve the soundproofing effect.
Molton is a fabric made of cotton which is roughened on both sides. Due to the density of the fabric, the molleton fabric is flame retardant and absorbs sound due to its rough texture and also light due to its thickness. The sound-insulating properties are measured in qualities, whereby the light molton qualities up to about 190 g/m² are woven in a canvas weave and the heavier molton qualities from 250 g/m², which corresponds to the general stage molton, are produced in a body weave. (See also: www.moltonsite.de)
Plain weave briefly explained:
A plain weave is basically the simplest type of basic weave in weaving. Colloquially, the plain weave is also called cloth weave. None of the other weaves has a closer interlacing of warp and weft threads. Here, warp threads come to lie alternately above and below the weft threads. The special thing about the plain weave of theatre curtains is that they reflect the same pattern on both sides of the fabric.
Advantages & disadvantages of canvas weave theatre curtains
With properly canvas-bonded stage curtains, you benefit from a high level of resistance to sliding and rubbing. A small negative point could be the less good drapeability. This means that the drape of canvas-bonded curtains is not as optimal. (Drapeability refers to the deformability of a textile fabric without wrinkling.)
Body weave briefly explained
In addition to the plain weave explained above, there is also the body weave, which is also one of the basic weave types for woven fabrics. A body weave can be recognised by the diagonal pattern of the fabric. A well-known material in body weave is the fabric from which jeans are made. Twill woven fabrics are found in equal and unequal weave variants. Equal weave means that the fabric looks the same on both sides, technically speaking on both the left and right sides of the fabric.
Theatre curtain made of Kalmuk
The term Kalmuk is explained very quickly, Kalmuk fabric is nothing more than a cotton double weave with a very plump under yarn. The surface of Kalmuk is roughened on both sides, so that it is no longer recognisable that this fabric is woven with a body weave. Legends say that the Kalmuk originates from a Mongolian equestrian people who used it for saddle blankets.
Theatre curtain made of Akutexâ„¢
The fabric for Akutexâ„¢ curtains is manufactured purely synthetically and consists mainly of glass wool. Due to the synthetic production, the properties of Akutex can be varied.
Can theatre curtains be cleaned?
If the theatre, acoustic or soundproof curtains are made of molton, they can only be cleaned dry. Under certain circumstances, small stains can be treated with household remedies to restore the desired cleanliness of the curtains. Large theatre curtains can usually only be cleaned by a specialised company.
Properties of theatre curtains
In addition to the acoustic properties described above, soundproof curtains provide particularly good insulation. The reason for this is the material used, which is much thicker than standard curtains and can therefore protect you from unpleasant temperatures on cold days and nights. Some theatre screens offer a heating cost saving of around 35% and on days with unbearably hot temperatures, these curtains can protect you from too much heat.
Order theatre curtain sample card
Basically, fabric samples for theatre curtains are no problem, most manufacturers provide direct samples for this purpose, which you can have sent to you. When looking at the fabric & colour samples, pay attention to the lighting conditions, these should be similar to the lighting conditions where the soundproof curtain is needed. Don’t look at the colour sample cards in your yard and be surprised later that the chosen colour does not fit into your ambience. This way we can follow your wishes exactly, no matter if you are looking for a theatre curtain in bordeaux red, cherry red or royal blue, with the colour samples you can choose your favourite colour. In addition to the special colours, there are of course also acoustic & theatre curtains in standard colours such as slate grey, natural white or light grey.
Soundproofing with theatre curtains
Theatre curtains offer one of many possibilities to suppress disturbing noise. In the theatre, as in your own four walls, feeling comfortable is particularly important. Decoration and small accessories also play a major role. Even the curtains and on the stages of the world should have the qualities to give the guest of the opera house or the theatre stage a feeling of well-being. For this reason, it is important that soundproofing and acoustic curtains have a warm appearance.
For small theatres or school performances, it is possible to inspire children with printed curtains and possibly appealing motifs. (Molleton is printable) In this way, one simply combines the useful properties of these curtains with the beautiful. Theatre curtains are available in many beautiful designs that also provide excellent privacy. Other advantages are, for example, the above-mentioned thermal insulation and, of course, noise protection.
What do theatre curtains cost?
Here it depends on what ideas you have for a curtain. If the curtain is only intended to decorate the room, you can buy decorative curtains from many suppliers at relatively low prices. However, if you have special requirements for soundproofing, insulation or even fire protection, it is important to look for a suitable manufacturer who can match price and requirements. Theatre curtains with soundproofing, fire protection etc. functions are usually available by the metre.
Rabenring is a supplier of professional stage equipment. We will gladly manufacture your sound-absorbing theatre curtain to your desired, individual size. If you have any special requirements or would like a quotation, please contact us by phone on +49 35208-34773 or by email at INFO@RABENRING.COM.
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