Kids & Play

#67 · Puppet theatre curtain rod

String a piece of fabric across two chopsticks propped upright at each end. Instant puppet theatre backdrop. Showtime.

A tabletop puppet theatre made from a cardboard box needs a curtain, and a curtain needs a rod. A chopstick spans a shoebox stage neatly and is stiff enough to carry a small fabric curtain without bowing.

How to do it

1. Pierce a small hole in each side wall of the box, just below the top edge and level with each other.
2. Thread a rectangle of light fabric onto the chopstick, gathering it as you go.
3. Slide the chopstick through both holes so the ends sit proud outside.
4. Push the gathered curtain to one side to open, and pull it across to close.

Why it works

A chopstick will span about 20cm carrying light fabric with barely any sag, because deflection under load falls off very steeply as a beam gets shorter. Over a shoebox width it is effectively rigid. Try the same thing across a metre and it would bow visibly.

Tips & warnings

• Two chopsticks side by side let you have two curtains meeting in the middle, which is far more satisfying to open.
• Glue a bead to each protruding end as a finial, and to stop the rod sliding out.
• Light fabric only - a heavy curtain will bow it and jam the gather.