This autumn, leading theatre company Trestle tour the UK with their latest production, The Glass Mountain. This is the story of Olek, Polish baker by day, dreamer by night, who boards a bus for England only to find himself on a much bigger journey than that for which he had bargained.
This exciting international production weaves together the Polish fable of The Glass Mountain with contemporary stories of migration.  Featuring a cast of four, the show combines song and music inspired by Eastern European traditions of singing stories, with Trestle's process of devising physical storytelling theatre.

Director: Emily Gray
Writer & Dramaturg: Anna Reynolds
Musical Director & Composer: Laurence Kaye
Vocal and Movement Associates: Anna-Helena McLean and Christopher Sivertsen
Designer: Katherina Radeva
Lighting Designer: Matt Haskins
Associate Director (Taking Part): Oliver Jones

Cast: Kate Lush, Jacek Wytrzymaly, and Sean Garratt
Tour: 24 September - 14 November 2009

The Glass Mountain is the third "unmasked" production in a new era for Trestle. Founded in1981 and previously established as a touring company specialising in mask theatre, Trestle has now transformed into a building based, multi discipline, diverse arts organisation with a broad artistic vision and three strands of creative work, Trestle Touring, Trestle Arts Base and Trestle Taking Part.

Now under its Artistic Director, Emily Gray, the Company produces physical storytelling theatre with diverse cultural expression.  In the case of The Glass Mountain, Trestle have collaborated with experienced Polish theatre practitioners formerly of Teatr Pieśń Kozla (Song of the Goat) and Gardzienice to bring Eastern and Western European theatre styles together. Through such international relationships, Trestle has developed skills in forms other than mask and explored physical languages with which to tell stories.  Artistic Director Emily Gray said about the new production "Our journey began with my interest in finding a meeting point between the enormously respected theatre made by Grotowski influenced theatre companies in Poland and the struggles experienced by recent Polish migrants to England. It is thrilling to be working with performers who come from the intense physical and vocal training of Polish theatre and together we hope to find humour, playfulness and contemporary relevance in the Polish myth of The Glass Mountain. "

Joining forces with Trestle on The Glass Mountain is writer and dramaturg, Anna Reynolds, author of over 20 plays including the award winning Jordan and Skin Hunger, musical director and composer, Laurence Kaye, who is musical director of acclaimed theatre Company Horse & Bamboo and designer Katherina Radeva whose recent work includes Hungry Ghosts for Lost Dog and Veil for Horse & Bamboo.

Experienced Polish theatre practitioners Christopher Sivertsen (ex Song of the Goat) and Anna-Helena McLean (ex Gardzienice) join as vocal and movement associates. Christopher spent seven years as a principal performer of Polish theatre company Song of the Goat (Teatr Pieśń Kozla) and his recent work includes Director of Antigone (RADA) and Associate Movement Director and Fire Performer on Bird of Night (Royal Opera House). Anna-Helena McLean was a principal member of the internationally renowned Gardzienice Centre in Lublin directed by Wlodzimierz Staniewski and toured worldwide with the company. Together with Christopher Sivertsen, she has established a new company, Moon Fool, who are collaborating with Peter Reynolds (NoFit State Circus) on a version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The Glass Mountain tours the UK from September 24th starting off at Trestle Arts Base, and finishes at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester on 14 November.
For more information on Trestle Theatre Company visit www.trestle.org.uk

THE GLASS MOUNTAN - TOUR - AUTUMN 09

24 - 26 September       Trestle Arts Base, St Albans                   Box Office - 01727 850950

28- 30 September         Tobacco Theatre, Bristol                      Box Office - 0117 9020344

1 October                    The Hat Factory, Luton                         Box Office - 01582 878100

5 & 6 October              Pocklington Arts Centre                       Box Office - 01759 301547

8 October                    Scarborough College                         Box Office - 01723 360620

9-10 October                Unity Theatre, Liverpool                       Box Office - 0151 7094988

14 October                  Salisbury Arts Centre                            Box Office - 01722 321744

20 October                  Sundial Theatre, Cirencester                Box Office - 01285 654228

21 October                  The Courtyard, Hereford                      Box Office -  01432 340555

22 October                  Merlin Theatre, Frome                          Box Office - 01373 465949

23 & 24 October          The Rondo, Bath                                  Box Office - 01225 463362

29 October                  Theatre Royal, Wakefield                      Box Office - 01924  211311

30 October                  Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham        Box Office - 01434 652477

3 & 4 November          Jersey Arts Centre                                Box Office - 01534 700444

12 - 14 November       Mercury Theatre, Colchester                Box Office -  01206 573948