Phelim McDermott, co-founder of the theatre company Improbable, has brought his acclaimed solo show *Tao of Glass* to the West End after seven years of international performances. The two-hour monologue explores the creative process through McDermott’s collaborative relationship with Philip Glass, the 89-year-old American composer whose music has been a key influence on McDermott’s career.

*Tao of Glass* premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2019, where it was praised for its blend of entertainment and emotional insight. McDermott’s fascination with Glass’s work dates back to his time as a performing arts student at Middlesex Polytechnic in the 1980s. His early projects incorporated Glass’s music, which eventually led to professional opportunities in London’s theatre scene, including staging Glass’s operas.

McDermott first met Glass during preparations for a 2007 English National Opera (ENO) production of *Satyagraha*, Glass’s opera focused on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. This encounter marked the beginning of a longstanding collaboration. Despite initially declining the offer to direct the epic *Einstein on the Beach*—Glass’s groundbreaking five-hour work—McDermott is set to stage the opera in Manchester next year, embracing the challenge of making its complex themes accessible to audiences.

The director emphasizes the importance of presenting Glass’s operas in full. Glass has been explicit that his works should not be shortened, a rule McDermott adhered to, even when facing pressure to cut durations at major venues like the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Improbable’s improvisational theatre style complements Glass’s repetitive and minimalist musical compositions. McDermott describes the rehearsal process as one of creative exploration, filling extended scenes with visual and theatrical innovation, often utilizing puppetry and found materials—elements integral to his artistic identity.

The genesis of *Tao of Glass* lies in an abandoned project to adapt a Maurice Sendak children’s book. The show’s title references the Taoist concept of “Tao,” which McDermott interprets as an invitation to align with the natural unfolding of life’s processes rather than resist them. The narrative intertwines reflections on artistic creation, friendship, and the unexpected directions a career in the arts can take.

*Tao of Glass* is currently running at Sohoplace in London through September 12. The production offers audiences a rare glimpse into the intersection of theatre and contemporary classical music through the lens of two distinctive creative voices.