Trestle is a mask and physical theatre company with a 40-year history. Our mission is to inspire creativity for all through participation and dialogue. We do this by approaching opportunities with an open mind and playful attitude using masks and mask technique to unlock creativity.
We open up opportunities for everyone to engage with the arts, unleash their creativity, and increase confidence and general wellbeing through participation. Working with our masks presents participants especially those who may otherwise struggle to communicate their stories, feelings and thoughts, with a liberating canvas to be creative, and join with others to build confidence and self-expression.
Our Aims
- Create and deliver high quality mask and physical theatre performances and training locally, nationally and internationally.
- Support creative growth and improved mental health and well-being through our participatory work with young people and adults.
- Send high quality, handcrafted Trestle mask sets and accessible resources across the world
- Run Trestle Arts Base as a welcoming venue for professional artists and creative space for local communities
- Deliver professional development for teachers and arts practitioners, including MA, PGCE and CPD training.
- Partner with professional artists and companies in the development and sharing of their work
What we offer:
Trestle offers an inspiring and exciting programme of drama workshops in physical and mask theatre delivered by Trestle trained professional practitioners. Trestle is an Artsmark Partner delivering all of our workshops and participatory projects in line with the quality principles. From two hour theatre workshops to week long residencies we offer the following participatory workshops delivered either at your venue or at Trestle Arts Base, bespoke for groups of all needs inclusive of non-school groups and participants with special educational needs.
For all our workshops the suggested running time is 2 hours but this can be flexible to suit your needs. We recommend a maximum of 24 people per workshop but can accommodate more on request (please note this may incur an extra cost to be confirmed on booking).
Trestle Theatre Masks are playful, they transform performers and transfix audiences. With a mask on you have the freedom to explore your world through another’s eyes. Trestle offers five different Mask Sets with teaching resources and accompanying CDPL Sessions.
They are worn from Brazil to Singapore, Canada to Australia and are unique in their universal usage in mask theatre and performance.
‘Thank you Trestle for making these beautiful masks! It gave me the opportunity to bring something beautiful in the world.’ – Sophie Bakker, Drama Teacher, Amsterdam
‘Great youth theatre workshop this evening using Trestle Theatre masks. Amazing results – very proud of our talented members!’ Chicken Shed Theatre, Kensington & Chelsea.
