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Whether you are adding mask work into your classroom for the first time, or wanting to develop your existing mask theatre lessons in new and exciting ways then our new theatre masks are just the ticket.
Designed by Toby Wilsher (the man behind the Trestle Theatre Masks), these new sets are suitable for students of 11 years plus.
The sets comprise 16 varied expressions, painted in FIVE different skin tones. Also available in mixed skin tone sets.
The three realistic skin tones can represent a range of cultures, and you can choose a mixture of colours in your set. We’ve also added two non-natural skin tones (grey and a light green). These work best if the set is all one colour. The colour of the masks are a good discussion point in class. Can students play a mask a different colour to themselves? Why use non-naturalistic colours?
A collection of 16 expressive mask characters in a natural skin tone.
A collection of 16 expressive mask characters in a surreal skin tone.
A collection of 16 expressive mask characters in a natural skin tone.
A collection of 16 expressive mask characters in a surreal skin tone.
A collection of 16 expressive mask characters in a natural skin tone.
£249 per set
Our mask sets are hand crafted to order in our own workshop. Please allow up to 14 days for delivery.
Free standard delivery within UK.
A collection of 10 light tone, 3 medium tone and 3 dark tone masks.
A collection of 4 light tone, 6 medium tone and 6 dark tone masks.
A collection of 6 light tone, 5 medium tone and 5 dark tone masks.
The new sets of 16 theatre masks from The Mask Workshop are intended for workshop and performance use for students over 11 years of age.
They present with an emotional attitude which is fluid depending on the wearer. They are suitable for beginners as well as experienced performers and are excellent for devising.
The Mask Workshop offers videos and tutorials on introducing students to mask work, physical theatre, devising and developing performance skills, as well as more academic studies on the History of Masks.
We also sell a range of Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans to help you plot the development of the student’s engagement with the mask.
TOBY WILSHER co-designed the three Trestle Mask Sets in 1995, and made theatre masks for every Trestle production 1981-2004.
He has also made masks for three productions at the State Theatre of Turkey, for Sydney Theatre Company, The Village Idiots and Business Unusual (Darwin).
His theatre masks have sold worldwide in their 1000’s.
The three realistic skin tones can represent a range of cultures, and you can choose a mixture of colours in your set. We’ve also added two non-natural skin tones (grey and a light green). These work best if the set is all one colour. The colour of the masks are a good discussion point in class. Can students play a mask a different colour to themselves? Why use non-naturalistic colours?
The masks lampoon certain facial attitudes and are not intended to be any specific gender. This will depend on who is wearing the mask, how it is dressed (hat, hair/wig) and how it is used. The mask itself often looks to be male but this changes when it is worn.
The cultural aspect of the mask largely depends on how it is painted, so a range of 5 skin tones are offered, including a neutral grey tone and a green tone. There is one specifically East Asian mask.
We all have different sized heads, so not every mask fits every person, and some masks will look better on specific people, depending on their physicality.
Our theatre masks are made of 3mm High Impact PolyStyrene. Should they get damaged, use a small piece of the spare plastic provided, and glue-gun over the split. The paint will scratch if the mask comes into contact with a sharp edge, so avoid stacking the masks on top of each other without the protective cloth provided.
Before the start every session and each time a mask is used by a different student it should be wiped inside and out with antibacterial/antiviral wipes or spray. This will also remove any make-up which may have transferred to the mask from a previous user. Antibacterial/antiviral wipes or spray should also be used on every mask at the end of every session before they are returned to their storage box.
Here’s a chance to become acquainted our motley crew of mask characters. They would love to join in your drama classes and promise to be on their best behaviour if they do!
The masks are not sold in the sets shown below but we thought it would be useful to compare how each character works in the range of colours they are currently available in.
This character seems serene, happy and slightly fragile. This can be pushed to become a bit unhinged and nervous.
Easily perturbed and constantly worried, they can also play aloof, sad and lonely.
This happy loon is possibly too chilled to be unhappy, so takes everything in their stride, and is content to undertake any task.
Oh dear. Oh dearie, dearie dear. If anybody can help, please do. It’s been a bad day.
An irritating child or close relative, very close to foul language or bad behaviour. Impossible to please.
Upbeat and positive, breezing through life, can be startled easily and their playing of disappointment is very powerful.
Likes to be right and takes offense when proved wrong. An intimidating character if played tall, with a slow menace and a mean face.
Harumphing their way through life, upset by every mistake and slight, they can also come across curmudgeonly and irritated.
Intelligent, a bit arch and knowing but also friendly. A very precise manner bordering on the prissy.
This distinctly East Asian mask has a light smile and the air of someone who knows a lot, maybe has a secret and definitely a private joke. (not included in the dark skin tone mask set)
Disapproving, easily shocked and full of self-righteous indignation, they can also play much lower status by dropping the shoulders, chest and chin to accentuate the lower lip.
Definitely better than you, you really should know better. Constantly aware of a bad smell maybe, but can also play brisk and busy. Think Malvolio.
Floating around in a confused haze, easily trodden on or left behind. Slighty unfit so needs to catch their breath. Often disappointed with everybody and everything.
The noble, the hero, the suffragette, the saviour… but a slight change of physicality and they become much more sinister and Machiavellian.
Trouble in any situation, a devil and a scoundrel. Nothing or nobody is safe. A filthy mind behind a filthy smile.
Nothing is ever good enough, everything is to be disapproved of or disappointed by. But they can also be easily shocked.
