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afstopdoek

English translation: masking drapery

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:afstopdoek
English translation:masking drapery
Entered by: Mark Straver

09:42 Jan 17, 2012
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / Theatre/stage
Dutch term or phrase: afstopdoek
In a rider for a stage production this term is mentioned without further explanation or context. There are few hits on-line for this term, and it doesn't appear in any of my dictionaries. It seems to be very specific stage terminology.

The sentence this occurs in: "Het podium en de podium-omgeving, waaronder doch niet beperkt tot >>afstopdoeken
Mark Straver
Sweden
Local time: 13:30
masking/theatre curtains/drapery
Explanation:
Wikipedia calls it differently, but a lot of hits from rental companies on Google for 'masking drapery/curtains'. 'Afstoppen' in theatre terms is masking the sightlines of the audience so it cannot see the side of the stage, nor the place above it where the lights, winds machines etc. are. Masking drapery also makes sure that no undue light is reflected from walls etc. as such creating a 'non-existant' environment (spectator is no longer in a 'theatre' but with the characters on stage).
Selected response from:

Kirsten Bodart
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:30
Grading comment
Thanks - masking drapery was what I was looking for :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4masking/theatre curtains/drapery
Kirsten Bodart
2backdrop
Suzi Griffiths


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
backdrop


Explanation:
I had a look at the other references online. Someone appears to be offering these as decor in a range of different materials when used as decoration for a party these would also be called backdrops a backdrop being the term for the screen on which either a scen is painted or lights are projected and therefore differs from the curtains which are mentioned later in the sentence.

Suzi Griffiths
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DebbieKleynhans: Agree.
1 hr
disagree  Kirsten Bodart: That is not what the fabric is for in theatre terms. See my Dutch reference./ I have the impression that there are many different ways of saying it, but they mostly involve 'masking' yes.
1 hr
  -> Great Kirsten, that sounds more likely. I see now that "achterdoek" is "backdrop". Had a look online in English for the term as I hadn't heard it before and it seems the most common term is "masking drapes" would you agree?
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
masking/theatre curtains/drapery


Explanation:
Wikipedia calls it differently, but a lot of hits from rental companies on Google for 'masking drapery/curtains'. 'Afstoppen' in theatre terms is masking the sightlines of the audience so it cannot see the side of the stage, nor the place above it where the lights, winds machines etc. are. Masking drapery also makes sure that no undue light is reflected from walls etc. as such creating a 'non-existant' environment (spectator is no longer in a 'theatre' but with the characters on stage).



    Reference: http://dvtg.hku.nl/licht/theate~1.htm
    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theater_drapes_and_stage_curtai...
Kirsten Bodart
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks - masking drapery was what I was looking for :)
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