Tao of Glass
Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Improbable, Perth Festival, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen, Hong Kong New Vision Arts Festival and Carolina Performing Arts – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in association with Naomi Milgrom AO.
An exploration of life, loss and a single question: Where does true inspiration come from?
Composer Philip Glass and performer-director Phelim McDermott have worked together on acclaimed opera productions in London, New York and beyond, and Tao of Glass was their most personal collaboration yet. Inspired by a dream, this world premiere married ten meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom with ten brand new pieces of music from Glass, presented by McDermott with an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers.
Part-concert, part-performance, Tao of Glass was a storytelling tapestry, soundtracked by Glass’s mesmerising music and shot through with Improbable’s trademark theatricality.
Creative Team:
Philip Glass – Composer
Phelim McDermott – Writer & Co-Director
Kirsty Housley – Co-Director
Fly Davis – Designer
Colin Grenfell – Lighting Designer
Giles Thomas – Sound Designer
Ragnar Freidank – Collaborator
Chris Vatalaro – Musical Director
Jen Tan – Assistant Director
Lyndie Wright – Puppet Designer & Puppet Maker
Camille Etchart – Design Associate
Sorcha Steele – Sound Associate
Matt Lever – Lighting Associate
Touring Team:
Phelim McDermott - Co-Director & Performer
Chris Valataro - Musical Director and Ensemble (Percussion)
Peter Relton - Remount Director
Colin Grenfell - Lighting Designer
Matt Lever - Lighting Associate
Giles Thomas - Sound Designer
Eleanor Theodorou - Sound Associate
Sarah Wright - Puppeteer and puppet captain
Avye Leventis - Puppeteer
Dave Emmings - Puppeteer
Janet Etuk - Puppeteer
Original Performers:
David Emmings – Puppeteer
Janet Etuk – Puppeteer
Phelim McDermott – Performer
Jack McNeill – Ensemble (Clarinet)
Rakhi Singh – Ensemble (Violin)
Katherine Tinker – Ensemble (Piano)
Chris Vatalaro – Ensemble (Percussion)
Sarah Wright – Puppeteer & Puppet Co-ordinator
Laura Lutzke - Ensemble (Violin)
Jack McNeill - Ensemble (Clarinet)
Katherine Tinker - Ensemble (Piano)
Luke Childs - Production Manager
Emma Cameron - Company Stage Manager
Caoimhe Regan - Deputy Stage Manager
Anna Booth - Assistant Stage Manager
Previous performances:
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, UK
Thu 11 – Sat 20 July 2019
Perth Festival 2020, Perth, Australia
Wed 19 Feb – Sun 23 Feb 2020
Ruhrfestspiele, Recklinghausen, Germany
Fri 3 June – Sun 5 June 2022
Memorial Hall, Carolina Performing Arts
Sat 25 March 2023
Skirball, NY
Thu 30 March - Sun 9 April 2023
New Vision Arts Festival @ Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
Thur 26 October - Sun 29 October 2023
★★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★★ The Times
★★★★★ What’s On Stage
★★★★★ A Younger Theatre
★★★★★ Bachtrack
★★★★★ North West End
★★★★★ Theatre Reviews North
★★★★ The Telegraph
★★★★ The Observer
★★★★ The Arts Desk
Critics Pick New York Times
