Adjustable floor pulley — A single wheeled pulley fixed to the floor at one end of a cord pulley operated curtain track system. The floor pulley is located beneath the double end pulley and creates a loop in the curtain cord, so that a curtain can be operated at ground level. The floor pulley has an adjustable wheel to maintain a constant tension on the operating cord.

Backdrop — is a flat seamless cotton fabric curtain that provides a scenic element to the stage.

Bi-parting Curtain — A pair of stage curtains that overlap and split at the centre of the stage and draw to the side

Block hanging bracket — A bracket used for fixing medium duty or heavy duty stage tracking. The bracket is suitable for thread rod suspension of tracking and accommodates M10 thread

Bolted hanging bracket — A bracket used for fixing medium duty or heavy duty stage tracking. The bracket has a fixed M10 thread and is suitable for L bracket or threaded rod installations

Border — Border curtains are curtains that conceal lights and other equipment above the stage. Their size is usually determined by sight lines.

Centre Opening Curtain — see Bi-parting curtain

Chain pocket — A canvas sleeve that is sewn into the bottom of a curtain which houses a linked metal chain. The chain provides weight at the base of the curtain to prevent them from billowing.

Chroma key — is a technique for superimposing one video image onto another. Chroma key effects are commonly used to provide an interesting scene behind a TV reporter or to provide special effects. The Chroma key effect is produced by shooting a scene in front of a backdrop that is typically blue or green in colour.

Cord Drawn Curtains — (cord pulley operated) A curtain track system used to operate centre opening or one way draw curtains. The movement of the curtain is achieved by hauling on a cord that is attached to the curtain through a series of pulleys.

Cycloramas — are backdrops at the rear of the stage and are used primarily for lighting and projection purposes. They are generally manufactured from a white seamless Filled cloth.

Dead Pulley — a pulley used on a curved heavy duty stage track system, which guides a cord or wire along the profile of the curve.

Double End Pulley — (head pulley) a double wheeled component that is fixed to one end of a curtain track on a cord pulley operated system. The double end pulley is located directly above the floor pulley.

Filled Cloth — is a soft, crease resistant cotton fabric that is mainly used for cycloramas. Filled cloth is so called because it is literally gauze with the holes filled in.

Floor Cloths — a heavy weight cotton canvas cloth that has been primed and painted with a specific scene or colour.

Fullness — is additional fabric sewn into a curtain by means of pleats or gathering tape. E.g. 50% fullness indicates that the curtain has been manufactured from 1 ½ times as much fabric as the finished width.

Fly bar — is a system of wires, pulleys, counterweights and pipes that allows a curtain to be hoisted on and off stage.

Gauzes — are open weave fabrics that when lit from the front (and the stage behind the gauze is totally dark), the gauze appears opaque and renders the scene behind the gauze invisible. When the scene behind the gauze is illuminated and the front lights on the gauze are dimmed, the gauze becomes invisible, revealing the upstage scene.

Hand Drawn Curtain — (walk along) is a hand operated curtain whereby the operator grasps the curtain and moves it into the desired position.

Heavy Duty Stage Track — An extruded aluminium curtain track section suitable for large and/or heavy curtains.

Joining pins — metal rods used for joining aluminium track sections. The track joining pins maintain a correct alignment between adjoining track sections.

Leg Curtains — (wing or side curtains) are used to hide the side of the stage from the audience’s view. They also provide concealed wings for actors to enter and exit the stage.

Light Duty Stage Track — an extruded aluminium curtain track section suitable for small stage curtains or widow curtains

Live Pulley — a pulley used on curved heavy duty tracks which guides a cord or wire along the profile of the curve and allows the master carrier to pass through the sheave.

Masking Curtains — are curtains used to hide the off-stage areas, divide the stage, and provide access to the main stage area.

Masking curtains include Borders, Tabs and Legs (wing curtains).

Master Carrier — cranked (cranked leader) a fixed two wheeled runner with a cranked arm that attaches to the leading edge of a curtain and allows a centre opening curtain to overlap.

Master Carrier — straight (straight leader) a fixed two wheel runner that attaches to the leading edge of a curtain that is used on overlapping tracks or one way draw systems.

Medium Duty Stage Tracking — an extruded aluminium curtain track section suitable for small to medium sized stage curtains

Molton — Molton (AKA Rokel or Duvetyne) is an opaque, crease resistant, brushed cotton fabric that is suitable for drapes , backdrops and many masking applications.

Nessel — is a 100% cotton woven canvas with a flat surface suitable for painted backdrops. The Nessel canvas is available in a variety of widths making it easy to create seamless backdrops.

One Way Draw Curtain — A single curtain that opens to one side of the stage only.

Pipe Pocket — a sleeve, usually sewn at the bottom of a flat curtain, that can accommodate a metal or PVC pipe.

Rope Guide — (used with cord pulley operated tracking systems) a bracket which fixes to the heavy duty stage track that supports the cord at the centre of the track.

Runner — curtain runner, also known as bobbin, is the moving part of the curtain track that is used for attaching the curtain to the curtain track.

Sceneboard — (stage board) is double fluted cardboard sheeting that is used to create light weight stage sets and props.

Scrim — is an open weave cotton fabric that when lit from the front (and the stage behind the gauze is totally dark), the gauze appears opaque and renders the scene behind the scrim invisible. The most commonly used scrim is called sharkstooth scrim

Sharkstooth — see scrim

Sheave — is a wheel or roller with a groove along its edge for holding a cord or wire.

Side Curtains — see leg curtains

Single End Pulley — (return pulley) a single wheeled component that is fixed to one end of a curtain track on a cord pulley operated system. The single end pulley returns the cord to the opposite end of the curtain track where the double end pulley is located.

Sound Control Curtains — are heavy weight, pleated curtains used to absorb sound, so that the sound not reflected back into a room. Sound control curtains are typically used to cover hard surfaces such as concrete walls and are usually manufactured from felted wool.

Swivelling Leg Brackets — are spring loaded brackets that allow curtains to be rotated at ground level to suit differing sight lines.

Tab Curtains — (Tableau curtains) are used to divide the stage into smaller sections. They can also be used to hide equipment and backdrops at the rear of the stage.

Track Joining Plates — A pair of metal plates used for fixing adjoining heavy duty curtain track sections.

Track Spacer — A metal bracket used on overlapping curtain tracking systems. The track spacing bracket maintains the correct distance between overlapping curtain tracks and can also be used to suspend the tracks from threaded rods.

Valance — is a horizontal masking curtain usually made from the same material as the front-of-house and is suspended on a batten/pipe in front of the main curtain.

Velvet — is a woven cotton fabric with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel and look. Velvet is mainly used for the Front of House Curtain and creates a rich, luxurious appearance.

Velveteen — is a woven cotton fabric that is manufactured to imitate velvet. Velveteen is commonly used for hire drapes and costumes.

Weighted floor pulley — A single wheeled pulley suspended above to the floor at one end of a cord pulley operated curtain track system. The weighted floor pulley is located beneath the double end pulley and creates a loop in the curtain cord, so that a curtain can be operated at ground level. A weighted pulley is generally used on curtain track systems mounted to a fly bar, or in situations whereby floor fixing of the pulley is not possible.

Wing Curtains — see leg curtains. Wool felt — a 100% matted wool fabric that is opaque, durable and mainly used for drapes or sound control curtains.