Industrial Textures Series Stage Draperies From Rent What? Inc. Offer Creative Options

Production designers frequently turn to Rent What? Inc. first when looking for theatrical curtains and backdrops, kabuki drop systems and concert supplies. Cutting-edge stage fabrics give production designers a much wider palette of creative choices as they seek to bring new excitement to their shows. As a result, the specialty fabrics are winding up in more A-list productions.

One of the new drapery fabrics, the Aluminum Mesh, provides a surprising range of looks, textures and lighting options. Although extremely lightweight, it appears opaque and solid when lit from the front. When back-lit, it can be used as a scrim. Crinkled up or shaped and lit from an angle, it assumes new dimensional textures, likened from rock walls to ocean waves. Even more options are available when hung in front of other lit surfaces such as an LED star field or cityscape. The mesh comes in 23-foot and 30-foot heights, and widths up to 40 feet.

Because the drape’s material is aluminum it is non-flammable, and therefore does not require a certificate of flame retardancy.

“We really want to bring new and unusual products to the production designers,” said Rent What? Inc. partner Marce Forrester. “Typically, designers consider rental houses as a necessary but uninspiring resource. Our objective is to become far more than that. We’re a creative resource, which is why they’re increasingly looking to us for fresh ideas and products to make the shows better. So we’re always looking for the next big idea in fabric and stage drapery rental materials.”

In addition to the Aluminum Mesh, the Industrial Textures Series of specialty drapes feature other unusual and versatile fabrics including Inherently Flame Retardant “Texturelite.” It includes a gunmetal gray fabric of crushed silk for dramatic and contemporary staging, and the edgy FR “Camo Net” camouflage drapes. All are available for rental in various sizes and stage elements including backdrops, truss wraps,
legs and borders. Different elements can be mixed-and-matched or rented a la carte to create a stage design that fits just about any kind of concert venue and budget.