Our Mission
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
Arts Award Provision
Trestle is also an Artsmark Partner delivering all of our workshops and participatory projects in line with the quality principles.
Our Team
Clare Winter (She/Her), Executive Director
Clare joined Trestle in November 2009 as Finance and Fundraising Manager and is now Trestle’s Executive Director, overseeing the development of Trestle Arts Base as a community resource and professional performance venue. Clare studied business at Harlow College and originally worked in the private sector; she soon became disillusioned with the working ethos and spent the next 15 years working in a children’s charity, delivering education through the arts for young people of all ages and abilities. She has worked in front of house and accounts with a variety of companies and is a fundraiser for the Western Sahara. Clare has a passion and talent for photography and has won numerous awards.
Helen Barnett (She/Her), Creative Director
Helen Barnett joined Trestle in March 2017. She trained originally in drama at Loughborough University and went on to gain an MA in Directing from East 15 Acting School with a module training abroad at GITIS in Moscow. Helen then went on to work as a freelance theatre facilitator and Director working with companies such as The Bush Theatre, The Tricycle Theatre, Polka Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre on various education and outreach projects alongside her role as Artistic Associate with Sphinx Theatre Company. She was also a resident associate artist at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton in 2014 and guest lecturer on the third year of the Acting Course at Northampton University for the last three years before joining Trestle.
Rhian Smith (She/Her), Brand Manager
Rhian became Marketing and Development Manager for Trestle in December 2009. Initially studying under Trestle founding member Sally Cook at Melton Mowbray Performing Arts College before graduating with a BA (Hons) in Devised Theatre from Dartington College of Arts (2004). For a number of years, Rhian worked as a freelance theatre facilitator for various UK arts organisations and then as a producer for Lamfrag, a short film collective whose work was shown internationally at prestigious festivals. Before joining the team at Trestle she worked at both The Alban Arena and Harpenden Public Halls as the Marketing and Press Officer. Most recently Rhian received BFI funding to produce ‘New Atlantis’, a short film currently on the festival circuit.
Joseph Arm (He/Him), Mask Department Manager
Joseph is the Mask Department Manager and has been with the company for over 10 years. Previously studying Fine Art at the University of Hertfordshire where his journey concluded in a series of portraits. Upon discovering the masks, he transitioned his portraiture skills to mask-making. He is now practised in designing and making masks for shows and other commissions working with practitioners such as Nina Conti and Small Nose Productions Ltd.
Karene Horner-Hughes (She/They), Creative Projects Manager
Karene joined Trestle in May 2014 shortly after finishing her degree in Drama and English Literature at Portsmouth University. She runs Trestle School of Drama, Trestle Community groups and our M-Ask Wellbeing Drama projects. She is a trained Trestle mask and physical theatre specialist and has been working with youth groups and as a freelance drama practitioner for 14 years. As well as her work with young people and the local community Karene is an actress and singer and has appeared in Trestle Theatre’s tour of Yarico and as Boudicca in our Hertfordshire Hidden Heroines HLF Project.
Bob Wright (He/Him), Operations Manager
Bob graduated from Middlesex University in 2010 with a degree in illustration. He has been successfully running ‘Life drawing St Albans’ at Trestle Arts Base since 2014 whilst working freelance artist and illustrator. As a familiar face around Trestle Bob is looking forward to continue working the many different communities that work and operate from Trestle. He is excited to be on board and be part of the fantastic Trestle team!
Elaine Johnson (She/Her), Gallery Programmer & Finance Assistant
Elaine is our Gallery Programmer and Finance Assistant and has been with Trestle since 2009. She studied Applied Art at the University of Hertfordshire and also works as Arts Development Officer at Three Rivers District Council.
Our Board
Samantha Lane (Chair)
Samantha is the Artistic Director of Little Angel Theatre (since 2015), where she commissions and directs theatre for children, as well as overseeing a wealth of projects for schools, communities and an online programme of activity. She was formerly Director of Projects at the Almeida Theatre where she made theatre for, by and with young people aged 14-25, led a Facilitation PGCert in partnership with RCSSD, a thriving schools partnership programme, and an exciting participation programme for over 500 young people. She was also Education Manager at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, where she created numerous Theatre-in-Education shows for primary and secondary schools, as well as directing community plays with casts of 60+ people. Samantha has also worked at The V&A Theatre Museum, as a secondary Drama Teacher and on various freelance theatre/education projects – including working in Singapore and Canada. She is also the author of Directing Young People in Theatre: A Guide to Staging Plays with Young Casts (Macmillan).
Sarah Pepper
Sarah has a background in research, statistics and evaluation in government. A keen interest in the performing arts and youth community provision makes Trestle a natural place to support. Sarah is married with two daughters and lives in St Albans.
Tom Watkins
Tom enjoyed a varied and exciting career as an actor, director, writer, creative director of an international film festival and competitive gymnastics coach before turning a passion for helping others into his profession. He is a Social Prescribing evangelist and has seen the power of community transform lives in a way that medicine never could. Tom leads the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s Thriving Communities programme in the East of England. He loves sharing stories and working with people, especially young people. His love of the creative arts inspires every aspect of his work and he believes that art changes lives.
Kathryn Rodgers
Kathryn has a long history with Herts based companies, charities, and organisations, including inclusive charities, and so has a thorough knowledge of creative processes, funding & organisational management. History includes HR & Training positions for the NHS, ANLP, Age Concern Herts and Dixons Stores Group PLC. She also has experience in health and well-being in the workplace, delivering training on a range of stress management topics. Now focused on the arts, Kathryn runs her own company, KatAlyst Productions and is a professional theatre director. She is also passionate about psychology and holds a post-graduate diploma in Applied Positive Psychology. She is currently undertaking an MSc in Communication, Behaviour, and Credibility Analysis with EIA & the University of Manchester. Kathryn held the Taking Part co-ordinators role at Trestle between 2011-2013 and is thrilled to be back this time, on the board of trustees.
Cashain David
Cashain is the founder of the Kromanti Rum company which produces great Rum inspired by stories and recipes from the Windrush generation and beyond. With over 20 years experience of working with vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities, his interest in Trestle was ignited due to their insight on working with identity and mask. In addition, he coaches individuals and teams; and is developing a unique approach to storytelling in community contexts.
Olivia Tetlow
Having grown up in St Albans and attended many classes at Trestle throughout her childhood, Olivia leapt at the chance to join the Board and get involved in a new capacity. She is finishing her BA in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Bristol while working as a freelance theatre producer across the UK. Having a particular interest in accessibility and working with young people, Olivia is really passionate about the work that Trestle do for the community.
Maria Shury-Smith
Maria is an experienced producer and facilitator, with a track record of building acclaimed place-based creative programmes, currently in Luton for Revoluton Arts and previously for Kiln Theatre and the Ambassador Theatre Group. Her practice is underpinned by her personal and professional connection to her multi-lingual mixed heritage, which she developed in her research into the legacies of slavery within the working culture of the creative industries. Selected as a Clore Emerging Leader in 2022, Maria is committed to amplifying creativity that is overlooked or ignored and to developing meaningful career pathways that ensure the cultural sector and the work it produces reflects and is relevant to society it exists to serve.
Our Youth Board
Freddie Kent, he / him (16)
Freddie joined Trestle in September 2019 in the Evolve class and has continued his journey into the Advance class and volunteers with the younger classes. Freddie has a passion for film and theatre and is an amateur film maker. His first acting role was at 5 years old when he played Mary in the nativity.
Marcelo Skut, he / him (13)
Marcelo joined Trestle School of Drama 6 years ago when he was 7 and now he is in the Evolve class. His favourite Trestle show he was in was The Myths of the Sea performance in the summer of 2023. Some of Marcelo’s favourite drama games include penguin, would you rather and torpedo.
Elsie Padden, she / her (14)
Elsie attends the School of Drama Advance class, before which she took part in various projects at Trestle Arts Base. She has a strong passion for theatre both onstage and backstage. She also enjoys film-making as a hobby.
Archer Smith, he / him (12)
Archer joined Trestle School of Drama when he was 5 but has been connected to Trestle since birth because his mother (Rhian) works there. Archer has always been interested in theatre throughout his life. He has always loved watching performances at Trestle and loved Frankenstein On A Budget by Lamphouse Theatre Company.
Zack Moody, he / him (15)
Zack joined Trestle School of Drama in the Evolve class and is now in the Advance class. He has been in many shows and his favourite performance was ‘Tuesday’. Zack has been involved in drama for a very, very long time and his first ever acting role was as an Italian pizza delivery person in the Nativity!
Elif Cohen, she / her (24)
Elif has been helping out at Trestle Summer Schools for the last 3 years and jumped at the chance to join the Youth Board. Elif is a huge fan of acting and writing. Her first performance was playing Cinderella when she was five; it involved a lot of sweeping. Elif loves Mischief Theatre and follows their performances across the country.
Allie Reed, she / her (12)
Allie joined Trestle at the age of 7 as part of the Emerge group. Her favourite memory of performing was in year one when she played a star in her school’s nativity.
Mila Hinton, she / her (15)
Mila joined Trestle 7 years ago when she was 9 years old. She loves drama and trying new things. Her favourite memory was doing a solo show when everyone else couldn’t perform. She also volunteers with the Begin Class. Mila’s favourite play she has seen was Much Ado at the Globe.
Abi Clark, she / her (17)
Abi has been involved with Trestle since 2018. She has been in many performances, such as Animal Farm and Brainstorm, and has volunteered to help the younger classes.
Kai Yilmaz-Porter, he / him (16)
Kai is an avid theatre enjoyer and amateur playwright. His favourite playwright is Arthur Miller with his favourite play being “A View from the Bridge”. He has been part of the Trestle community since he was 8 and has been part of many productions. Fun Fact: He was Joseph in nativity when he was 3.
Our Patrons
Patrons: Jim Broadbent and Nina Conti
A note from Jim Broadbent:
‘I have supported Trestle as a Patron for over twenty years and have been delighted by the inventive use of mask, puppetry and storytelling through the Trestle’s Masked years and into the Unmasked productions. The last show, The Birthday of the Infanta was a celebration of performance, storytelling and physical theatre; evidence of the Company’s continuing and considerable prowess as a creative force in UK theatre.
Trestle led the way as the first UK touring company to build its own home and the beautiful Trestle Arts Base in St Albans has inspired artists from across the globe to make new work. The Company has moved with the times and adapted to circumstance while sustaining a strong commitment to artistic quality, community development and young people.
However, Trestle’s unique creativity and ways of linking touring work with participation programmes and a community building are threatened by cuts in government funding. For thirty years Trestle has given the arts community, young people and audiences across the UK inspiration and learning and now is the moment for you to give back to Trestle.
Please support Trestle by patronising their new projects and donate whatever you can to help Trestle stay creatively vibrant and effective. Anything our supporters can give will make a difference to Trestle’s future.’