LITTLE INDIA, SALBERG STUDIO, SALISBURY PLAYHOUSE

SOMETHING rather mystical and mesmerising filled the Salberg space last weekend.

Trestle theatre company, known primarily for its innovative performances using masks, has for its latest production transformed the mythical story of Shakuntala, taken from the Indian epic Mahabharata, into a visually stunning story of our time, effortlessly fusing contemporary themes with Indian tradition.

Trestle artistic director Emily Gray and writer Nina Patel collaborated with Bangalore based theatre company Little Jasmine, the three actors learning the quite breathtaking Indian martial art of Kalari, mudras (intricate Indian hand gestures) and the rhythmic singing of southern India. Little Jasmine also provided the music, an integral part of this production, particularly in the otherwise quiet fight scenes.

Audrie Woodhouse gave a quite amazing performance as Shakuntala, the forest woman. She managed to convey both Shakuntala's naivety and the complexities underlying her mythical existence, with a powerful demonstration of physical theatre. King Dushyanta meets Shakuntala while hunting in her forest, little knowing each other's identity, and after a night of passion Shakuntala is left expecting a baby. Kevin Rowntree as Dushyanta gave a magnificent regality to his role, with Ashwin Bolar as Bharata, the rather delightfully stroppy son who sets off to the city in search of his father.

This is where Indian tradition meets contemporary culture, the parallels with environmental issues today, are obvious. King Dushyanta wants to cut down the forest for more housing while Bharata is torn between his new found city gadgets and bright lights and his roots.

A simple set using a hammock that transforms into a boat and a screen conveying the forest keeps the theatre space clear, for what must be the absolute highlight of the production, the magnificently beautiful Kalari fighting.

Trestle has made a piece of storytelling into something quite fantastic.

- Anne Morris