60 m² of fire protection

Curtains can serve many purposes. They may offer shelter from prying eyes or provide refuge from the harsh midday sun. Or they may be the theatre curtain that grants performers a final moment of invisibility before the show begins.
But in the theatre, there is another, very special kind of curtain: the iron curtain.

The iron curtain protects the audience in the event of a fire and prevents flames from spreading to other parts of the building. Since one of the deadliest theatre fires of the 19th century — the Ringtheater fire in December 1881 — the iron curtain has been mandatory in Austrian theatres. #

It separates the stage from the auditorium and is a crucial structural element of fire safety. Made of a steel structure clad in fire-resistant panels, the iron curtain is designed to close airtight, ensuring that smoke cannot enter the auditorium. It is typically positioned in front of the stage curtain, between the forestage and the main stage.

The iron curtain at the Salzburg State Theatre is nearly 20 cm thick, covers an area of about 60 m², and weighs an impressive 2.3 tons. Before each performance, its functionality is carefully checked in cooperation with the fire department. And after the final bow, it lowers again—revealing a painted image of the Mirabell Gardens for the audience to take in.