Yards Apart

The Director of this production is Mary Stone
Mary is delighted to be presenting her one-act play, Yards Apart, for its world première at Maskers. It will be the fifth show she has directed, following: Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (2019), God of Carnage (2016), Colder Than Here (2013) and the NODA award winning Last Train to Nibroc (2011). Mary has also directed for The Chesil Theatre's 10x10 festival, produced several shows and worked backstage in a number of roles from Stage Manager to Lighting Operator. Mary used to tread the boards too, and had roles in Entertaining Angels, Kindertransport, Blood Wedding, An Inspector Calls and Habeas Corpus all at The Chesil Theatre. Mary has also written comedy sketches, short plays, a short film and has had a short story published in an online anthology of horror stories!

Mark is played by Philip de Grouchy
A member of the Society since the early 1970's, Philip has played a large variety of parts in every kind of show and was last seen playing Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing. Philip was also in our last show at the Studio, Quartet, just before first lockdown.

Viki is played by Anna Hussey
Anna joined Maskers over 2 years ago and has been involved both on and off stage. Debuting with Maskers in Wyrd Sisters as part of the ensemble in 2018, Anna has contributed backstage and helped with marketing in 2019 before returning to the Maskers’ stage for 100 to play Nina in October. She has had her first experience of Masker’s summer open-air production, playing Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.
Anna has been involved with local dramatic groups since 2014 and started off exclusively in costume. The acting bug grabbed her in 2016 when she performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Snout the Tinker with the Curdridge Players. She has also performed with SUP in And Then There Were None, contributed to their war memorial performances of For the Fallen and played Mother in The Railway Children.
Anna is over the moon to be cast in Yards Apart as it’s an exciting new production and gives her the opportunity to explore and build on the character of Viki with Mary and Philip, as well as exploring themes about perceptions, beliefs and tolerance.

Sharks in the Custard

The Director of this production is Jez Minns
Jez is not a complete newcomer to directing. In his younger days he directed some adventurous, large-cast shows for an amateur company in Warwickshire. However, this is his first time with Maskers and he has been amazed by the professionalism and expertise of everyone involved. Normally an actor, Jez was last seen playing Borachio in Much Ado about Nothing. His last appearance in the Studio was in the Maskers’ Christmas show, The Flint Street Nativity, in which he played the seven-year-old bully-boy, Bradley Jerrams.

Liz is played by Jill Desborough
Jill has been a Masker since 2014 and has enjoyed acting in a variety of roles. Highlights include Much Ado About Nothing (Townhill Park), The Jungle Book (Hamptworth) and The Killing of Sister George (Studio) and several Christmas Shows. While acting remains her first love, she has recently branched out into backstage roles, including stage managing last year's Christmas Show and directing Quartet.

Vera is played by Allegra Carlton
Allegra has played a range of character parts in numerous productions in Southampton for local amateur companies over many years. Highlights have included Rossignol in Marat/Sade (Nuffield Theatre), Aunt Betsy Trotwood in David Copperfield (Nuffield Theatre), Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest (Nuffield Theatre) and Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice (Mottisfont). She has also been involved in costume design and wardrobe in a considerable number of productions for Maskers (recent shows include Great Expectations, The Importance of Being Earnest, Don Quixote and Quartet). She is delighted to be cast in Sharks in the Custard, where her East Yorkshire origins are standing her in good stead.

Mair is played by Jane Russell
Jane is delighted to be taking part in her second production for Maskers – a completely different challenge to that of Mary in The Flint Street Nativity – and she has enjoyed working with fellow Maskers to bring this one act show to life. Although having performed in over 25 productions with both RAODS and EOMS since rekindling her love of acting in 2012, playing the part of Mair in Sharks in the Custard is the first time that Jane has had to master a Welsh accent: an interesting challenge but the perfect opportunity to binge watch Gavin and Stacey!

Bridget is played by Kate Grundy-Garcia
Kate has been a Masker for many years now and has more recently been in Antigone and Comfort Me with Apples, also performed at the studio. She looks forward to playing a small but compact role this time in Sharks in the Custard.

Guest 1 is played by Clare Minns
After many years performing with Southampton Operatic Society, being directed by her son is a new experience for Clare - but a very enjoyable and rewarding one.

Guest 2 is played by Graham Buchanan
Graham is a founder member of Maskers and is still actively involved with the company both on and backstage.

Atlas Cleaner is played by Albie Minns
No lines. No mistakes.

Tickets £12

No concessions

On arrive at the Masker’s Studio

• Please give your name (or the name the tickets were booked under) to our Box Office receptionist, and they will confirm your booking.
• If you have pre-ordered a programme you will be given it on arrival. Programmes will also be available for £1 from a FOH member.
• For the safety of all our audience members and staff we will be operating some Covid risk reduction actions.  Please use the hand sanitising stations on arrival, & temperature checks will be in place.  We will also be increasing the fresh air circulating throughout the venue.
• NHS Track and Trace QR codes are available for you to check in when you are at the venue.
• We strongly recommend that customers use face coverings whilst in the building for the safety of our staff and other customers. Please be kind to our staff and those around you.
• Our staff will continue to wear face coverings for your protection.
• Our bar will be open for purchases of hot drinks and alcoholic beverages.  We would encourage you to pre-order you interval drinks, to assist our bar staff and reduce crowding at the bar.
• We are now able to take, and prefer, card payments but can also take cash.

During your visit

• Please continue to wear your face covering throughout your visit. Unless exempt, or whilst you are drinking in the bar only.
• We ask you to keep movement around the theatre to a minimum.
• Toilets are open for use. Please wash your hands before and after using the toilet facilities.
• Hand sanitiser will be available for your use at various points around the theatre building.
• We have installed an extra extractor fan to vent studio air to the outside pulling fresh air in from the other side of the building.
• Where possible windows will also remain open.  This may make the venue cooler than you are used to, so please be prepared.
• Enhanced cleaning will take place throughout the venue before, and after the performance.
• The taking of photographs or videos whilst the show is on is not permitted.

How will we exit the building/event at the end of the performance?

• When leaving, please do not crowd the stairwell and allow everyone to leave easily and quickly.
• Please take any rubbish with you or leave it in the bins provided.

What if I have specific access needs?

• The stair chair lift is available and our FOH staff will assist you should you need to use it.
• Any other requirements may be discussed with our Box Office manager in advance of your arrival.

Book with Confidence, Exchange with Ease – COVID-19

If you or a member of your party are displaying COVID-19 symptoms or are required to self-isolate, you must not attend the theatre and all tickets in your booking will be exchanged or a gift voucher issued up to 24 hours prior to the performance. Tickets cannot be refunded after a performance has passed.

If the show is cancelled, will I get a full refund?

• If we are required by any COVID-19 government guidance or restrictions to cancel a performance, tickets may be exchanged or refunded.