Stage Backdrops and Drapes

Premium Stage Backdrops, Theatre Backdrops and Stage Backcloths

We know that you will not find a higher class of stage backdrop product than ours on the market at this price point. Our printed fabric stage backcloths are supplied ready to hang, sewn all round and finished to your exact requirements.

Several clients have remarked that buying theatrical backdrops and stage backdrops from us are cheaper than renting from other suppliers! Plus, our turnaround times are a standard 5-6 working days – with an even quicker fast turnaround service available on most orders if needed.

We print from your artwork – this can be your logo or other design, including photographic or illustrated backgrounds. Thousands of high-resolution backdrop themes and ideas are available from image banks such as the iStock Photo Library and The Shutterstock Library for minimal cost. Many of these are perfect for scenery theatre backdrops. We are always happy to advise on your artwork design if needed.

• Flame retardant fabric
• Non-reflective
• Lightweight for hanging, storage and transport
• Eco-friendly and easily recycled
• Single or Double-Sided (ask for details)
• Choice of standard or blackout fabric (ask for more information)
• Finishing to your specification – eyelets, hems, sleeve pockets etc.
• Maximum size in both dimensions without a join = 2.6m to 2.9m depending on finishing

Custom Made Printed Theatre Backdrops

Our Stage and Theatre Backdrops are custom-made to your specifications and requirements. Do you have a particular fixing issue? We can help with a range of professional finishing options.

Professional Stage Backdrops Manufacturing

Our class-leading printed stage backdrops, drapes and scrims are manufactured using a dye-sublimation process print process. This print technique makes our stage and theatre backdrops extremely hardwearing and colourfast as the ink fuses into the fabric on a molecular level becoming part of the substrate. The Dye Sublimation print process means your stage banner will not run or fade like many of the cheaper alternatives on the market. This high-quality product is foldable and lightweight for secure storage. Click here to find out more about the print process.

Stage Backdrop Printing at Any Size

Our popular Stage and Theatre Backdrops and Drapes are custom-made to any size to suit your requirements. Whether you are performing in a small hall or big theatre, we have the solution.

Our maximum print width on premium fabrics is 3 metres. Backdrops larger than 2.6m to 2.9m (subject to finishing specification) in both dimensions will have panels seamed together. Stitching is colour coordinated and cannot be noticed by the audience in a typical theatre setting. We do have alternative materials with a width of up to 5 metres.

Made from a sturdy 210gsm knitted polyester fabric and printed in vibrant full colour. These custom backdrops fold and roll up to be used again and again, always looking fantastic.

Stage Backcloths Usage

Ideal for stage backdrops, stage backcloths, stage backgrounds, stage curtains, stage scrims, stage drapes, theatre displays, custom backdrops, conferences, pantomime backcloths, museum backdrops, exhibition displays, red carpet events, photoshoots and point of sale displays.

Ideal on stage or against a solid surface, our standard stage backdrops will let some light through from behind if there is a stable enough light source. For a total blackout, use our Blockout Fabric. Lighting engineers can experiment with stage lighting to create different effects with our wide range of materials.

Finishing Options

We finish the material can be finished to your specification – choose eyelets or pole pockets to suit. Many Stage and Theatre Backdrops will have eyelets at the top for hanging the banner. You can include a Pole pocket at the bottom from which a weight would be slid in (wooden dowel, broom handles or metal pipe).

Washable by hand – wipe clean. Smaller stage backcloths can also be easily machine washed at 30 degrees.

Theatre Backdrop Material Specification

Our standard specification for stage and theatre backdrops is as follows:

• 210 gsm knitted polyester fabric
• 100% PES
• Non-reflective and anti-glare
• Flame retardant

Other materials are available, such as Polyester 115gsm, Veil 55gsm, Blockout Polyester 240gsm. Check here for more Fabrics ideal for Stage Backdrops and Stage Backcloths.

Customer Service

Call us for pre-sales advice or for any help you may need during the order process. Our team are all fully experienced in the specification, design, manufacture and installation of stage backdrops.

Flame Retardancy Certificate

Our Fire Certificate for stage backcloth material is unique in the industry in that we have our fabrics tested for flame retardancy after printing. Many venue safety officers will now not accept a generic fire safety certificate if it is just for the base fabric.

Design Guide for Stage Backdrops

Set your dimensions correctly

Please set your artwork to the correct proportions of your final printed stage backcloths. We do not require any bleed on the artwork for a printed backdrop. If necessary, you can set your artwork to scale.

Set the correct CMYK colour settings

Please make sure that you set your colour settings to CMYK. Our backdrop printers use a full-colour dye-sublimation printing process which works using cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks. Files that are sent to us using an RGB setup will be changed automatically. Sometimes this can make the colours on your printed backdrop seem weak & washed out. We will check for this before printing and contact you if required.

Position of eyelets on your printed stage backdrops

Please leave a clear area of approx 50mm inside the edge of the banner. Background colour and images are fine, the eyelets can obscure just no important text elements, small print or logos as these. We will add hems and eyelets unless otherwise stated. It is not advisable to have just eye holes (without the hem) as this can cause the material to rip.

We space our eyelets approx every 500mm apart unless otherwise stated. Holes spacing might vary slightly on different sizes of banners.

Pole pockets on stage backdrops

We can finish your backdrops with pole pockets if required. Set to the overall finished size of the backcloth, including the pole pockets. Standard scaffold tubes need a 150mm flat pocket size to fit comfortably with plenty of space as to not cause to much tension on the pocket seam. Solid colour/ background images or patterns are fine, just not text or vital information. Check here for more information on pole pockets and how to design for them.

Stage backdrop design principles

For stage backdrop design, it is always important to consider viewing distances. Create your artwork to give the highest possible impact. Contrasting colours will give your backdrop much more clout than washed out subtle colours.

A single scene is usually ideal for a theatre backdrop design.

Consider the size of your text if used. From a distance, larger text is easier to read. Use upper and lower fonts.

Cramming every little bit of information onto your stage backdrop is not a good idea. Less is more. Remember to use areas of space and give your design space to breathe. The best backdrops are always simple and straight to the point.

Material Weight

210gsm

Fabric

Knitted Polyester 210gsm

Flame Retardancy

Tested after print process to BS5867-2: 2008: Type B

Printing

High quality dye-sublimation printing.

Accepted File Formats

We only accept files in PDF, AI, EPS, JPEG, PSD or TIF Formats

Bleed & Safe Area

No bleed, 50mm safe area

Black Composition

C10 M10 Y10 K100

Artwork DPI

75-150dpi

Full artwork guidelines available here:

How will I know if my artwork is ok?

Our artwork department check all artworks as standard upon ordering. We check for quality and size and will advise accordingly where necessary.

I don't have any artwork but would like a backdrop scene image for a play, can you help?

We don’t keep stock images but can point you in the right direction for sites where you can purchase images to use.  Adobe Stock Library and Shutterstock are popular paid for services. Pixabay have a good collection of free to use images.

How big can you make stage backdrops?

Any size is possible. Our machines print at up to 3.2m wide and larger backdrops are seamed together.

How are backdrops printed?

We use CMYK Dye sublimation process. Click here for more details.

Are there a choice of colours?

The polyester we print on is white to start with.  All backdrops are full colour printed using CMYK dye sub technology so the choice of colours is virtually endless.

Do you have a fire certificate?

Yes, this can be downloaded from this page. Many venues now refuse the standard material manufacturers certificate, so we went that one step further and had the material printed and then independently tested.

Can you advise on what size I need?

We can’t advise on this but if you check with your venue they should be able to give you the size of the stage area.

Will my backdrop be in one piece?

Larger backdrops will have a joined seam. We recommend having vertical joins as there is no stress on the joins when hanging. We will put vertical joins in as standard unless otherwise requested for a horizontal join.

A backdrop with the smallest dimension of 2.9m or under will be in one piece.

What is the lifespan of these backdrops?

If well looked after your stage backdrop will last for years.  It can be neatly folded up when not in use and stored in a dry location away from direct sunlight.

Will it crease when folded?

There will be an element of creasing like any fabric or sheet.  Normally the crease will drop out when hanging especially if it is weighted at the bottom.  You can also iron on a low heat if required.

Can it be washed?

Yes it can be machine washed on a low heat.

Do I need to add extra on for hems or pole pockets?

No we can do all that.  Our software is specially designed to add the necessary extra print on depending on your finishing requirements. Whether is be hems all round or pole pockets.  All we need from you is the artwork to the required finished size and we will take care of the rest.

Will light shine through from the back?

Yes some light can shine though if there is a light source behind the backdrop. If this is the case you will be better choosing our Blockout Stage Backdrops

Do you only ship to UK?

No we can ship anywhere in the world please contact us for a quote.

Does this product include a stand?

No. This is a loose backdrop and doesn’t include a stand

This product type has been generically tested for flame retardancy AFTER printing using our dye-sublimation process and AFTER our standard finishing procedures.
Tested in the UK to BS5867-2: 2008: Type B specification. We are unable to produce individual test certificates for each bespoke item ordered.