Trestle – The Jack Studio Theatre, London

Brimming with good humour and a generous spirit, Trestle brings a small Yorkshire village to off-West-End London.

Trestle

I happened to take my partner, who is from a small Yorkshire village, to this play set in a small Yorkshire village. And one of the things he was keen to have me know was the accuracy of just that type of trestle table. Exactly the one found in village halls or community centres around the country, it seems. So although there really is a lot of setting up and taking down of this eponymous table in Stewart Pringle’s Trestle, it does seem to me like the right symbol for what this play is trying to convey.

Trestle, which won the 2017 Papatango New Writing Prize, is set over a series of Thursday evenings that year. As Harry (Timothy Harker) packs up after his committee meeting each week, Denise (Jilly Bond) arrives to set up her Zumba class. Of a similar age, one is facing his world becoming increasingly smaller while the other is still seizing life with two hands. From an initial faux pas, a tentative friendship emerges.

A friendship which says something about this village setting, which isn’t one we see often in London theatre. The play beautifully captures the nuances of small-town life. The way community is essential, yet how each person engages with it slightly differently. In a village, you can’t simply disappear into the anonymity of a big city. You have to get along with people, even if your views and priorities don’t always align. Pringle’s writing subtly explores this tension, showing how Harry and Denise navigate their differences and find common ground in unexpected ways. Their interactions feel rooted in reality, touching on themes of loneliness, aging, grief, and the significance of connections old and new.

Comedy Grounded in the Everyday

The acting in Trestle is strong throughout. Both Harker and Bond bring warmth and authenticity to their roles, making their characters’ quirks and vulnerabilities deeply relatable. There is a real humour in their exchanges, which makes their developing friendship all the more engaging. However, while the performances are consistently engaging, the energy felt quite intense throughout. A little more variation in delivery might have given certain moments more breathing room and allowed for greater contrast in tone.

One of the production’s standout elements is its set design (by the producers, new theatre Parker Graham). The staging perfectly encapsulates the multipurpose nature of a village hall, a space that serves as a meeting room, an exercise studio, and a social hub, depending on the day. The details, like the aforementioned trestle table, are spot on, grounding the play in an instantly recognisable reality. It’s a setting that feels lived-in and familiar.

Overall, Trestle is a well-crafted, thoughtful piece that shines a light on the overlooked dynamics of village life. While the intensity of the performances might have benefitted from a little more variation, the humour, warmth, and sharp observations make for an engaging evening of theatre. It’s a play that lingers in the mind, prompting reflection on what community means and how our connections shape us.

Salterton Arts Review’s rating: 4/5

Trestle on until 8 March 2025. More info and tickets here.