Phelim McDermott's 'Tao of Glass', now playing at @sohoplace in Soho, is a cheeky, profound celebration of theatre, puppetry, and the music of legendary composer Philip Glass. The show, which premiered in Manchester in 2019, has earned a 4-star review from Time Out, which calls it 'a love letter to theatre' and 'a love letter to Philip Glass.'
A Unique Theatrical Journey
McDermott, known for his work with Improbable and the West End hit 'My Neighbour Totoro,' opens the show by recalling the 'ghosts of theatre' that live within him—memories of seeing Laurence Olivier and Albert Finney. He then transforms the production into a ghost of what could have been: a planned adaptation of Maurice Sendak's 'In the Night Kitchen' that never came to fruition after Sendak's death, and a childhood show he missed due to illness, 'Billy's Wonderful Kettle.'
'There was going to be puppeteers…musicians,' McDermott says, his delivery style described as a mix of TED talk, CBBC presenter, and Ken Campbell eccentricity. As he speaks, puppeteers and musicians appear, and the stage becomes a playground of tissue paper, sellotape, and puppetry, all under three concentric glowing rings designed by Fly Davis.
Crafting Magic with Simple Stagecraft
The show's brilliance lies in its playful simplicity. Sheets of music are scrunched into the shape of Glass himself, and torches create silhouettes that grow and shrink. McDermott weaves together leitmotifs—childhood memories, philosophical ideas, the concept of Kintsugi (mending broken pots with gold paint), and fine points of Taoism—picking them up and recontextualizing them throughout the performance.
It is a proselytizing piece, aiming to explain the history and theories of Taoism, with concepts like 'cones of consciousness' and 'Deep Democracy,' while intertwining Glass's music. Occasionally, it veers into 'bloke-does-a-podcast' territory, but its purpose is as much for theatre and music as for Taoism. The simple magic on stage is enchanting.
An Affectionate Tribute
McDermott's affable conversational style makes the show feel like it's creating itself as it goes along. He seems as surprised and wide-eyed as the audience when tricks unfold. The music of Philip Glass, playing underneath, makes everything sound about 70 percent more profound.
McDermott pulls together broken dreams, broken pots, and Glass's famous broken chords into a coherent whole. Far from naff or dull, this is a cheeky, fun, and deeply profound show—a love letter to theatre that could exist in no other form.
Performance Details
'Tao of Glass' runs 2 hours 30 minutes, with tickets priced between £25 and £110. Performances are scheduled from Saturday, 1 August 2026, through Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at @sohoplace, 4 Soho Place, London W1D 3BG. Matinee and evening performances are available on select dates.
