Northanger Abbey - Maskers Theatre Company

On Tour in July 2025

Click on a venue name for the full address

7^th - 12^th	Maskers' Studio Shirley, Southampton at 7:30pm
17^th	Hanger Farm Totton at 7:30pm
19^th	Townhill Park House (The Gregg School) at 2:30pm & 7:30pm Picnic opportunity at this venue!! Performances inside but picnic in the grounds from 1 hour before.
24^th - 25^th	Chesil Theatre Winchester at 7:30pm
26^th	King Edward’s Hall West Tytherley at 7:30pm

Don't forget to
also book now for "Absurd Person Singular"!

'Romance, mystery, and misunderstandings!'

Jane Austen's classic Gothic Rom Com!

A coming-of-age comedy of manners (and ill manners), of reading and misreading, by Jane Austen, the queen of Rom Com.
We join Catherine Morland on her adventures from sleepy Fullerton to Bath - THE place to be and be seen - and finally onto Northanger Abbey, where reality and fantasy meet as our unlikely heroine devours the gothic novel "The Mysteries of Udolpho". The more horrid, the better!

What really happened to General Tilney's wife?
- And does the answer lie locked inside a secret chest in Northanger Abbey?

Can Catherine maintain friendships with everyone she meets?
Who can she really trust?

And, of course, will there be wedding bells? If so, for whom?

Director & Cast

The Director of this production is Rob Iliffe
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Catherine Morland is played by Katarina Smith
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Annette / Mrs Morland / Mrs Thorpe is played by Sue Dashper
During Sue’s time in Maskers, she has been involved in a variety of productions including: Winter Sparkles, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Out of Focus, Contractions and Metamorphosis in the Studio and Sitting Pretty and An Italian Straw Hat at the Nuffield Theatre. Sue has appeared in many open-air productions including: Much Ado About Nothing, Don Quixote, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Jungle Book, Anne Boleyn, Treasure Island, Twelfth Night and Jane Eyre.

Mr Morland / John Thorpe is played by Simon Mewett
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Mrs Allen is played by Jill Desborough
Jill joined Maskers in 2014 and has been involved with many shows in a variety of roles, both on and off stage. Acting highlights have included The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sharks in the Custard, Much Ado About Nothing, The Picture of Dorian Gray and several Christmas Shows including last year's Winter Sparkles.

Henry Tilney is played by Neil Maddock
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Isabella Thorpe is played by Samantha Richards
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Eleanor Tilney is played by Emily Smith
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James Morland is played by Matthew Grant
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General Tilney is played by Philip de Grouchy
A member of The Maskers for over 50 years, Philip has played quite a variety of parts over those years - latterly several 'cameos' in Notes from a Small Island , the Public Prosecutor in Murder in the Citizens' Jury, and Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet. He now looks forward to personating the alternately unctuous and irascible General Tilney, owner of Northanger Abbey.

Dimity O'Flynn / Ensemble is played by Kate de Haviland
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Ensemble / Musician is played by Teo Russo
Teo is a Southampton based actress who joined Maskers in 2024 and was most recently seen portraying Pauline in Murder in the Studio. She is enthusiastically awaiting to see how performing live music in front of an audience will go after a 15-year hiatus.

Musician is played by Juliette Ribi
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Creative Team

Production Manager
Meri Mackney

Stage Manager
tba

Set Design
tba

Set Construction
Tuesday Team

Set Painting
tba

Lighting Design
Clive Weeks & Tony Lawther

Sound Design
tba

Lighting & Sound Operators
tba

Wardrobe & Costumes
tba

Properties
tba

Rehearsal Prompt
tba

Show Photography
tba

Poster Design
Nataliia Prymak

Ticket Information

Tickets £15

No concessions

Customers are requested to arrive promptly as late comers cannot be admitted.

On arrival 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 purchase from a FOH member.
For the safety of all our audience members and staff are still operating some Covid risk reduction actions. Please use the hand sanitising stations on arrival. We will also be increasing the fresh air circulating throughout the venue.
Wearing of face coverings is optional.
Our bar will be open for purchases of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. We would encourage you to pre-order your 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

A stairlift and disabled toilet facilities are available.
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.

Exiting 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.
As you go down the alleyway, please take extra care and keep to the marked footpath as the road is very uneven.
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.

What happens if a show is cancelled?

If we are required to cancel a performance, we will offer you tickets for an alternative performance.

Poster, Flyer & Programme

A4 Poster

Flyer

Programme
Available after the performance

For the Maskers

Technical Manager:- Jamie McCarthy; Lighting Consultant:- Clive Weeks; Sound Consultant:- Jamie McCarthy; Marketing Team:- Jenni Prior, Angela Stansbridge, Tash Priddle, Clive Weeks, Robert Osborne, Meri Mackney, Paul Baker; Front of House Manager:- James Lawson; Box Office Manager:- Chris Baker; Photographer:- Clive Weeks; Bar Manager:- Meri Mackney