The Directors
Sheana Carrington
The first show Maskers performed was a Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, in which Sheana played Hero. She also played the lead in Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind. Directing plays came later, and most enjoyable of these were Wind in the Willows at Mottisfont and Little Women at the Nuffield Theatre. Sheana and Brian both wanted to try something a little different and challenging for this year's Christmas anthology, so they have collaborated their ideas. As Sheana was in the first ever show, she is a Founder Member, and she can't believe how time has flown!
Brian Stansbridge
Brian has been a member of Maskers for over 40 years, as an actor, director and general mover and shaker. Directing credits include Absurd Person Singular, The Man in the Iron Mask, Comedy of Errors, The Servant of Two Masters and The Importance of Being Earnest. His most recent acting role was Long John Silver in Treasure Island, a part which he said he would give his right leg to play! Room at the Inn has been an opportunity to remember and draw upon the stories told by his parents about the Blitz in war time Southampton, but… maybe the best bit was just having the chance to collaborate with Sheana!
Musical Director and Pianist - Rosa Longman
The Cast
Leah Barlow
This is Leah’s sixth show with Maskers over a 12-year membership, playing anything from Anne Boleyn’s faithful friend Lady Celia to a singing strumpet or even controlling puppets deep in the Indian jungle. Leah returns to her singing roots in this role and is looking forward to exploring this character in her first Maskers Christmas show.
Johnny Carrington
Being in this show brings back memories from Johnny's first appearance with Maskers aged 10 (you will find out why later). It was 'Oh What a Lovely War' and he still remembers the songs... even the rude bits! Since then, he has been in many productions at venues ranging from the Nuffield Theatre to the open air at Mottisfont. Johnny's most recent acting credit was playing Finbar in 'The Weir'. But perhaps his most rewarding production was writing and directing 'Mitchell's Wings', the story of the Spitfire.
Sheana Carrington
The first show Maskers performed was a Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, in which Sheana played Hero. She also played the lead in Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind. Directing plays came later, and most enjoyable of these were Wind in the Willows at Mottisfont and Little Women at the Nuffield Theatre. Sheana and Brian both wanted to try something a little different and challenging for this year's Christmas anthology, so they have collaborated their ideas. As Sheana was in the first ever show, she is a Founder Member, and she can't believe how time has flown!
Pete Liddiard played by
Although Peter has occasionally been dragged onto the stage as an actor, his principal involvement with Maskers has been in set design, including Crimes of the Heart, The Graduate, Humble Boy, The Crucible, and Pride and Prejudice. He has also designed productions for Salisbury Playhouse, Motley Crew, Chesil Theatre, Boil & Bubble, and Southampton Operatic Society among others. He and his wife Ros also brought their nostalgia show, Thanks for the Memory, to the Maskers Studio Theatre. Peter is also heavily involved with the Chesil Theatre in Winchester.
Maria Head
Maria has been a member of Maskers for many years and was last seen as Sonia Serebriekova in Brian Friel's 'Afterplay'. She played Marmee in the 2009 production of Little Women and has performed in several open air productions at Mottisfont, including Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor. She is looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit in wartime Shirley.
Ruth Kibble
Normally at Christmas time, Ruth and her sister Leah are to be found singing soprano in the local church choir. A lover of WWII history and traditional Christmas music, she can't wait to recreate the festive season in a Southampton pub steeped in local memories. Ruth has been singing from an early age, appearing in many musicals in the south before joining Maskers at age 18. Normally wearing her Marketing hat, she's looking forward to donning some vintage clothes this Christmas.
Stuart Muirs
Stuart has been acting on and off for 20 years and he has appeared in several Shakespearean plays.
Some of his favourite Shakespearean characters are Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. Stuart has been a member of Maskers since November 2013. He appeared as Jerry in The Zoo Story for Maskers in March 2014 and he is looking forward to devising and appearing in Room At The Inn...It should be a lot of fun.
JonathanShepherd
This is Jonathan’s fourth Maskers production, having appeared in Pride and Prejudice (2007), Anne Boleyn (2013), and Our Town (2014). Jonathan has also performed at the Nuffield Theatre with Southampton University Players, appearing in a range of plays over the years. This will be his first Maskers Christmas show and he is looking forward to getting into the spirit of the season!
Angela Stansbridge
Angela is delighted to be playing the ‘blousy barmaid' Phyllis (based on a real barmaid from the Rover Pub in 1940s Shirley). Over the past 40 years Angela has played many roles at the Maskers Studio, The Nuffield and in the open air summer productions. She is rarely seen without bundles of publicity flyers as she is part of the hardworking marketing team!
Alan Watson
Alan has been a Masker for 40 years and has appeared in productions at the Maskers Studio Theatre, the Nuffield Theatre, the Theatre Royal Winchester, the Tudor Merchant's Hall and in the open air at Mottisfont and Hamptworth. The wartime setting of this current production prompts Alan to pay tribute to his parents' hope in starting a family during the dark days of 1942.
Robert Osbourne
Robert's first ever role with Maskers was as the Stage Manager for the Christmas show in 2011. Since then he has taken on numerous roles both onstage and offstage. He is happy to return to work on the Christmas show again this year as Assistant Stage Manager and playing the role of the Vicar for one night. He hopes the show conveys the power of Christmas to bring light to even the bleakest periods of time.
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